Lasia

Lour., 1790

Lasia is a small of flowering plants in the arum (Araceae) comprising two accepted : Lasia spinosa and Lasia concinna. The genus was long considered until the rediscovery of L. concinna in 1997 in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, where it was being cultivated for its edible young leaves. Both species are native to humid tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea, with L. spinosa having the broader distribution across South and Southeast Asia.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lasia: /ˈla.si.a/

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Identification

Lasia are distinguished from other Araceae by their combination of aquatic to semi-aquatic habit, spiny stems (particularly prominent in L. spinosa), and hastate to sagittate leaves with long petioles. The two species differ in leaf and degree of stem armature: L. spinosa has more prominently spiny stems and broader, more deeply lobed leaves, while L. concinna has less pronounced spines and more slender, delicate foliage. The inflorescence consists of a spadix subtended by a spathe, typical of the .

Habitat

Humid tropical and subtropical regions; found in wetlands, marshes, swamps, and along stream and pond margins. Often grows in standing water or saturated soils. Lasia concinna has been documented growing in paddy field environments under .

Distribution

Native to Asia and New Guinea. Lasia spinosa occurs across a broad range including China (including Tibet), Taiwan, the Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. Lasia concinna is known only from West Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia.

Life Cycle

herbaceous plants. Vegetative via rhizomes appears common based on practices. Detailed documentation is limited, particularly for L. concinna which remains poorly known in the wild.

Human Relevance

Lasia spinosa is widely consumed as a vegetable in Sri Lanka (known as kohila) and Myanmar (known as zayit), where young leaves, shoots, and rhizomes are used in curries, fried dishes, and soups. The has documented medicinal properties, with leaf extract showing anthelminthic efficacy against Trichinella spiralis. Lasia concinna was discovered being cultivated specifically for its edible young leaves. Polyphenolic extracts from L. spinosa roots have been investigated for effects on poultry reproductive performance.

Similar Taxa

CyrtospermaPreviously suspected as a parent of a hybrid involving Lasia spinosa; both are Asian aroids with edible parts and wetland preferences, but Cyrtosperma lacks the prominent stem spines of Lasia spinosa and has different leaf architecture.
CryptocoryneAnother Asian aquatic/semi-aquatic Araceae with similar preferences, but distinguished by absence of stem spines, different leaf venation patterns, and distinctive spathe .

Misconceptions

Lasia concinna was long misidentified as a putative hybrid between Lasia spinosa and Cyrtosperma merkusii based on a single specimen at Bogor Botanic Gardens described in 1920. The 1997 rediscovery of wild confirmed its status as a distinct .

More Details

Taxonomic history

The was established by Loureiro in 1790. For over 75 years, L. concinna was known only from the collected in 1920, leading to its misclassification as a hybrid. The was formally recognized only after Hambali and Sizemore's 1997 discovery of cultivated in West Kalimantan.

Conservation status

Lasia concinna has an extremely restricted known range and may be vulnerable due to conversion and its dependence on anthropogenic in paddy fields. The wild status remains poorly documented.