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Black is beautiful
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The purplish-black blooms and whiskery features make the Bat Lily resemble a bat
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CHERISHED AS A RARE PLANT The Bat Lily
This unique plant belongs to the genus Taccaceae, commonly found growing wild in the jungles of Southeast Asia, and now cherished in gardens, as a rarity. There are about 60 species of the Tacca, many with different coloured flowers — green and brown, green and yellow or with purple markings. Fancifully called the Bat Lily or the Black Lily, the flowers do resemble bats with their strange purplish-black blooms that curve inwards, with long whiskery features.
A thick green rosette of leaves enhances the beauty of the plant. A series of blackish flowers emerges from amid the leaves, one of the few, rare black-tinted flowers in the world.
A shady position is good for the plant. A rich, moist and well-drained soil, similar to the mulch-rich jungle soil is preferred. This lily too dies in the dry season and flourishes after the rain.
The common arrowroot is also part of the Tacca group — T. leontopetaloides, an important and cheap source of starchy food in the developing countries. Pest-free, the plant is well worth the search, as it makes a prized addition in a garden that is filled with the usual varieties.
RUPA GOPAL
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