Carib yam
Rajania cordata

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A vine. It is not woody. It is climbing and twining. It can grow 3-10 m long. The stems are slender and cylinder shaped. The leaves are alternate and 4-12 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. They have 5-9 veins. The leaves taper to the tip and are almost heart shaped at the base. The leaf stalk is 2-7 cm long. The flowering shoots are in the axils of leaves and hang down.

There are about 25 Rajania species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moist forests in middle to upper elevations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antilles, Central America, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, West Indies

How it is used for food

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alambrillo, Bejuco de guarauao, Guayaro, Name gulembo

Synonyms

Belongs in Dioscorea, but combination not yet made Dioscorea cyclophylla Urb.; Dioscorea scorpioidea C. Wright; Rajania cordata var. cymulifera Uline; Rajania cyclophylla (Urb.) R. Knuth; Rajania pleioneura Griseb.; Rajania sintenisii Uline; Rajania venosa R. Knuth;