Robust perennial herbs, often very large and with large tubers. Leaves solitary, often gigantic. Petiole erect, usually prickly. Leaf lamina sagittate when young, becoming trisect when mature; primary divisions subdivided dichotomously or pinnately; secondary divisions irregularly pinnatifid; ultimate lobes very variable in size and shape but at least some are truncate and trapezoid. Inflorescence solitary, usually appearing before the leaf. Peduncle with short prickles. Spathe boat-shaped, longer than or subequal to the spadix, the apex sometimes arched over. Spadix cylindric, with male and female zones contiguous. Flowers unisexual. Fruits large fleshy berries, red, purplish or partly white, arranged in a cylindric spike. Worldwide: 7-8 species, occurring in tropical Africa Burundi: 1 taxon. |
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