Cara acu
Dioscorea cinnamomifolia

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. It is a climbing plant that keeps growing from year to year. It produces annual stems from a large rootstock. The stems are scrambling or twining.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Brazil, Himalayas, India, Paraguay, South America

How it is used for food

The tuber is eaten after repeated boiling, washing and baking.

It is occasionally cultivated.

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cara-mimoso

Synonyms

Dioscorea cinnamomifolia var. zanoniae (Klotzsch ex Griseb.) R. Knuth; Dioscorea teretiuscula Griseb.; Dioscorea tuberosa Vell.; Dioscorea zanoniae Klotzsch ex Griseb.; Rajania brasiliensis Griseb.;