KELADI PARI (Fairy Yam) (Cyrtosperma Merkusii)
Also known as birah hutan & geli-geli, this is a prickly non-woody plant that can grow up to 1 m tall. Its prickly stalked leaves have arrow shaped leaf blades, with prickles on the veins. Its flowers are borne on a pinkish brown flowering shoot (spadix) enclosed by a log modified leaf (spathe) that has shiny, brownish-purple exterior, and pale green or cream interior. Its fruits are embedded in the flowering shoot's axis and greenish purple with a light brown tip. It is a vulnerable species in the Singapore jungle. Besides Singapore, this plant can be found in Malaysia, Sumatra, Philippines, Borneo, Java and Oceania. Although the leaves yield some hydrocyanic acid, the young leaves are reportedly eaten, presumably after cooking properly, which eliminates the poison. The spadix is used as an agent that promotes menstrual discharge. The starchy roots are eaten and non-prickly.