Tacca leontopetaloides (Polynesian Arrowroot)

Tacca leontopetaloides is a species of flowering plant in the yam family Dioscoreaceae. It is native to the islands of Southeast Asia. Austronesian peoples introduced it as a canoe plant throughout the Indo-Pacific tropics during prehistoric times. It has become naturalized to tropical Africa, South Asia, northern Australia, and Oceania. Common names include Polynesian Arrowroot, Fiji Arrowroot, East Indies Arrowroot, Pia, Hiththala and Seashore Bat Lily.

The leaves are palmately incised, 30-70cm long, sometimes reaching over 1m long in the wild. Flowers are born on tall stalks up to 1m tall. Flowers are greenish and reminiscent to the popular indoor bat flowers. The tubers are used for starch and with similar properties to Arrowroot. In the Maldives the starch is made into a beverage similar to Bubble Tea. H 1-1.2m x W 0.5-1m

Limited quantities, please contact us for pre-orders. Available from early January 2027.