Amorphophallus is a large genus of some 170 tropical and subtropical tuberous herbaceous plants from the Arum family (Araceae

Araceae

Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...

). A few species are edible as "famine food

Famine food

A famine food or poverty food is any inexpensive or readily-available foodstuff used to nourish people in times of extreme poverty or starvation, as during a war or famine...

s" after careful preparation to remove irritating chemicals.
These are typical lowland plants, growing in the tropical and subtropical zones of the paleotropics, from West Africa to the Pacific Islands. None of them are found in the Americas although a remarkably similar but not closely related genus, Dracontium

Dracontium

Dracontium is a flowering plant similar to Amorphophallus. It can be distinguished on the basis of its inflorescence, which is smaller and unisexual. The tuber is large, similar to that of Amorphophallus but rounder, with no central and circular scar mark. When the plant begins to flower, the tuber...

, has evolved there.