Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tropical plant: "devil's tongue" refers to a foul-smelling, somewhat fleshy tropical plant native to southeastern Asia. It is cultivated for its edible corms (underground stems) or grown in greenhouses for its large, ornamental leaves and its showy flower structure, which consists of a dark red spathe surrounding a large spadix. The plant is known for its distinctive, often unpleasant odor.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The botanical garden has a specimen of devil's tongue in its tropical greenhouse.
  • Farmers in the region cultivate devil's tongue for its starchy corms.

Advanced Usage

• Horticultural context: The term is used specifically in botany and horticulture to identify this particular species ( or related species).
  • Despite its unpleasant smell, the devil's tongue is a fascinating subject for botanists studying aroids.

Variants and Related Words

• Konjac: Another common name for the same plant, often used for the edible corm or the flour derived from it.
  • Konjac flour, made from devil's tongue, is used in various low-calorie foods.
• Elephant foot yam (): A related plant species, sometimes confused with devil's tongue.
• Voodoo lily: A common name for several species, which may include devil's tongue, referring to their striking and unusual appearance.

Synonyms

• Konjac plant
• Snake palm (a name sometimes used for related species with similar growth habits)

Related Phrases

• Devil's tongue jelly: A food product made from the glucomannan fiber extracted from the corm of the devil's tongue plant.
  • Devil's tongue jelly is a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine for its texture and dietary fiber content.

Noun

1. foul-smelling somewhat fleshy tropical plant of southeastern Asia cultivated for its edible corms or in the greenhouse for its large leaves and showy dark red spathe surrounding a large spadix