Cyrtosperma timikensis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. The genus went through considerable taxonomic changes in the 1980s, and as a result is now considered to be native only to Southeast Asia and some Pacific islands.[1][2] Previously, the genus was believed to be widespread from Asia to Africa and South America, but the African and South American species were subsequently moved into separate genera. Cyrtosperma is now known to be most prominent in New Guinea. The genus Cyrtosperma is unique in this regards because it is the only known big genus in Araceae that is known to be found east of Wallace’s line.
When we go to a forest or plant shop, we often see some taro and taro plants, taro plants are indeed the most abundant and diverse plants in the world, but have you ever seen taro that has thorns, tall stems, and leaves that face upwards like Alocasia , yep, it is a Cyrtosperma plant or the common name is Thorny Taro.
Cyrtosperma is included in the Araceae family or the Talas family and belongs to the Lasioideae subfamily which is characterized by thorns, stiff and hard stems, nice and rough patterned when touched, and the leaves are facing upwards, besides that there are several other types that belong to the Lasioideae subfamily. namely Anaphyllopsis, Anaphyllum, Dracontioides, Dracontium, Lasia, Lasimorpha, Podolasia, Pycnospatha, and also Urospatha.
Cyrtosperma plants have many types and very diverse species, most of which are found in Papua, and some are located in every calm river, especially in Sumatra, including Cyrtosperma johnstonii, Cyrtosperma ferox, Cyrtosperma cuspidispathum, and also Cyrtosperma mercury.