Tampis (Xiphidium caeruleum)

Tampis (Xiphidium caeruleum) is a plant species in Haemodoraceae, herbaceous perennial, up to 100 cm high, rhizome propagates or collapses which progressively erect into stems, leaves widen to form fans and grow in semi-shady places.

X. caeruleum has leaves that are shiny, green, rippled texture, linear like a sword with a length of 20-50 cm, flattened and arranged overlapping at the base to half of the leaf so that it looks like a fan, parallel threads and young leaves sometimes have soft spines.

Flower buds grow on the tip of an erect panicle, egg-shaped, yellow-brown and will turn white. The blooms are white, small bell-shaped and have 6 sepals. The stamens are yellow and the pistil is white.

Flowers bloom at the end of the rainy season and the change of seasons. Inflorescence arises from the middle of the top leaves, branches to more than 20 branches. Each branch contains up to 25 buds that bloom alternately.

Pollination is assisted by ants, bees or birds. Young fruits are green then red and eventually turn brown to dry out. Reproduction using seeds or the base of rhizomes and flower stalks that produce shoots.

Tampis grows to form an abundant population in forests, lakeside, river banks, roadsides and open areas with partial shade and sun exposure for several hours. Often used to treat worm infections and ornamental plants in pots.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Commelinales
Family: Haemodoraceae
Genus: Xiphidium
Species: Xiphidium caeruleum

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