There is supposed to be only one Tacca species in Africa: Tacca leontopetaloides (besides the recently discovered T. ankaranensis from N. Madagascar), and the plant in the picture is clearly not Tacca leontopetaloides. A new one? Encountered in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces of Mozambique. Note the very short leaf petiole, and the blackish, long bracteoles. Here on Mount Yokolo in Ancuabe District.
Here with Obet Jose Baptista, about 160 cm tall. The tubers are poisonous but an edible starch is sometimes extracted in times of food scarcity. Here close to Pemba town, growing in abundance in a sandy soil close to the coast.
Tacca leontopetaloides from Mount Erati (Nampula province of Mozambique) where it grows close to "Black Tacca". T. leontopetaloides has green flat inflorescence bracts and greenish bracteoles.
Tacca leontopetaloides is a species very common in Mozambique. Its natural habitat is deep soils (abandoned cultural land, etc.). Here on Mount Erati it is also found in deep rock fissures filled up with soil. In contrast, "Black Tacca" is a species of mountain slopes, with shallow soils and rock debris.
This tuber of a wild plant of Tacca leontopetaloides weighs 350 grams (12 x 8 x 6 cm). The starch of this tuber is sometimes extracted in Mozambique (and other parts of Africa) in times of hunger.