Kands of Chhattisgarh, India. IV. Jimi Kand (Amorphophallus sp.)

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Jimi kand is one of the well known kands of Chhattisgarh. The natives use this perennial, stem less herb as vegetable and to prepare pickles (Achar). Its large corms are used for this purpose. Jimi kand occurs both naturally and also it is under cultivation. In general, Amorphophallus campanulatus (syn. Arum campanulatus) is considered as Jimi kand but during the ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh.

I have observed that the traditional healers use two species of Jimikand as medicine. The second species is Amorphophallus commutatus. This species is known as Jangli or Van Jimikand. Very few natives are aware of natural occurrence of this species in Chhattisgarh. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, I have yet not found much details regarding this second species. Its occurrence is rare in Chhattisgarh. According to the traditional healers it is very difficult to use the wild species as vegetable. This wild species is not under cultivation. According to reference literature the cultivated species possess valuable medicinal properties and uses. According to Ayurveda, A. campanulatus is dry, acrid, pungent, increases appetite and taste, stomachic, constipating and useful in treatment of piles, enlargement of the spleen, tumors, asthma, bronchitis, vomiting, abdominal pains, blood diseases, elephantiasis, causes itching sensation (the natives aware of this itching sensation, use it as vegetable after special treatment). As mentioned earlier, the medicinal values of wild species have not been reported in available literatures.

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh aware of its medicinal uses, also prefer wild species as medicine. According to them, the corms as medicine are a boon for the patients having the problem of Bavasir (Piles). They instruct the patients having the problem of leprosy and leucoderma to avoid (strictly) its use as it is very harmful for such patients. They add that even the corms of cultivated species must not be used in case of such patients. Unfortunately, most of the natives are not aware of this bare fact and they are consuming it as vegetable very frequently. The traditional healers also use the corms of wild species both internally and externally in treatment of rheumatism. In general, it is used in combination with other herbs. The traditional healer of Mudpar village informed me that the harmful effects of Jimikand can be minimized effectively with the help of curd (Dahi). This is the reason the natives use curd in preparation of Jimikand based curries. According to him, it is good appetiser and beneficial for the patients having the problems of respiratory systems. Most of the healers are against the commercial cultivation of Jimikand, if the purpose is its medicinal uses. According to the healers, the cultivation reduces the medicinal properties to great extent.

From reference literatures related to botany, I have noted the botanical description of A. commutatus. According to these literatures, it is a herb having height upto 1.5 meters; Corms tuberous, depressed-globose, reddish brown outside, creamy white inside, Leaves with three primary divisions; Leaflets elliptic, base acute, apex heart shaped acuminate, membranous, hairless; Flowers unisexual, minute, brownish yellow, numerous, densely crowded in a special structure called spadix (called as Bhutti locally); Male flowers placed in the upper half of the spadix whereas female flowers below and they are separated by neuter flowers, that are sterile. Spadix cylindrical, apex narrowed to along tail like appendage; Berries numerous, about 8 mm across, smooth, shiny, red when ripe. As this species is rare in occurrence, I personally feel that there is a need for its conservation. But before this, it is necessary to identify the areas or pockets rich in its natural population. At present there is no threat on its natural population. As the traders and herb collectors are not aware of natural occurrence of A. commutatus, it is not collected from wild.

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