Botany
Payau is an herbaceous plant up to 1 meter high. Leaves are heart-shaped, with pointed tip, 25 to 30 cm long, and on long petioles. Spathe is greenish, flushed with purple, oblong, 4 to 5 cm long. Spadix is about 3.5 cm long. Seeds are ovoid, and about 5 mm long.

Distribution
Along small streams iin primary forests at low altitudes, often common but endemic in Isabela, La Union, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Rizal, Bataan, Laguna, and Sorsogon Provinces in Luzon; Mindoro; Palawan; Panay; Leyto; Biliran; Negros; and Mindanao.

Properties
Antirheumatic.
Vulnerary.

Parts used
Rhizomes.

Uses
Culinary
Large leaves are extensively used in the Camarines area for wrapping articles of food.
Folkloric
Rhizomes considered antirheumatic is used in the form of embrocation.
Leaves used as vulnerary.

Availability
Wild-crafted.