Bitter yam, Asiatic bitter yam
Dioscorea hispida

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. A climbing vine which can be quite long. It can be 10 m long. They twine to the left. There are thorns on the stem. It has compound leaves bearing 3 very large leaflets. The leaves can be 30 cm across. The leaflets are unequal on each side. The leaves are produced one after another along the stem. The young leaf stalks, stems and leaflets are hairy. The leaf stalk is as long as the leaflets (10-15 cm). There are small prickles on the under surface of the main vein. The flowers are small, pale yellow and borne on compound flower clusters. The fruit are 5 cm across and divided into 3 lobes. The tuber is covered with root hairs. It has lobes. Tubers are often 15-25 cm across.

It contains the alkaloid dioscorine which is poisonous so it needs to be treated before eating. There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In the Philippines they occur in Mt Province and from Luzon to Basilan. Also common in central Luzon and northern Mindanao. Outside Papua New Guinea it occurs in SE Asia and Indonesia. Plants grow from sea level to 1500 m altitude in Southern China. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, China, East Timor, FSM, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Sikkim, South America, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The tubers are eaten after processing by slicing, soaking in running water for 48 hours and then cooking. They are dried and cooked with rice and other dishes. CAUTION THIS YAM CAN BE VERY POISONOUS. NORMALLY SELECTED VARIETIES AND SPECIAL PROCESSES ARE NEEDED BEFORE IT IS USED.

A yam only occasionally used as an emergency food. It is occasionally cultivated.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, bulbils

How it is grown

It can be grown from a tuber. The tuber can continue to increase in size over several years.

Its other names

Local names

Bai shu liang, Baichandi, Bekoi, Bharlang, Bigap, Cu nan, Gadog, Gadong mabok, Gadong, Gadongan, Gadung, Gakn, Gang, Gloei, Halu genasu, Hasar sanga, Hati-muria alu, Hoseyar sanga, Hubi gak, Hung, Intoxicating Yam, Karot, Karukandu, Kata alu, Kalot, Kayos, Kduoch, Kedut, Khuech, Khulu sanga, Kloi, Kloy, Klut, Koi, Manovaj, Mete alu, Nami, Peiperendai, Podavakilangu, Pulidumpa, Sulur gadong, Tella-ginigeddalu, Thadangja, Ubi akas, Ubi arak, Ubi bekoi, Vaskand

Synonyms

Dioscorea daimona Roxb.; Dioscorea cylindrica Burm., Dioscorea daemona Roxburgh; Dioscorea hispida var. daemona (Roxburgh) Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea mollissima Blume; Dioscorea triphylla Linn. 1754 not 1753; Dioscorea hirsuta Dennst.;