Stachyphrynium placentarium is a species of flowering plant in the family Marantaceae. Its basionym was Phyllodes placentaria Lour.de Loureiro J (1790) Fl. Cochinch. 1: 13. and was subsequently placed as various species in the genus Phrynium. No subspecies are listed in the Catalogue of Life.
Distribution The species is widespread throughout Asia and is native to Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, South-Central and Southeast China, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sumatra, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam.
Uses The leaves of this species, lá dong, are notably used throughout Việt Nam as a wrapping for food items: especially bánh chưng (the glutinous rice cake consumed at Tết) and bánh tẻ. Species in the similar genus Phrynium, including P. pubinerve (dong gân lông) may also be used for this purpose. S. placentarium leaves are used for food wrapping in Việt Nam:
References Clausager K, Borchsenius F (2003) In: Kew Bull. 58: 672
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