Chinese yam, Cinnamon yam
Dioscorea oppositifolia

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. It is a large climber that keeps growing from year to year. The tuber is cylinder shaped and 50-90 cm long. The stem twines clockwise. It produces bulbils in the axils of leaves. The leaves are opposite and have 3-5 leaflets like fingers on a hand. They are 5-20 cm long by 3-8 cm wide.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea. Dioscorea opposita is an illegitimate, superfluous name (ICBN Art. 52) for D. oppositifolia L.; non D. opposita auct. (= D. batatas Decne.)

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on the Deccan in India. It grows in open forest or along the edge of the forest. It is a cold hardy species. It grows on hillsides and steep valleys between 500-1,500 m altitude. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Sikkim, South America, Sri Lanka, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The tubers are cut and washed with successively with salt and fresh water to remove an alkaloid dioscorine then cooked and eaten. The tubers are cooked and eaten. They are not glutinous so have little binding strength. They can be boiled, mashed, fried, or added to soups. A starch is extracted from the roots.

It is available dried in Chinese stores in Australia. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, bulbils

How it is grown

In Sikkim tubers are available December to March.

Its other names

Local names

Adairdumpa, Bhaisdheti, Eghen take-mare, Gentika dumpa, Gidha, Gilandru, Girchikand, Githa, Hakki genasu, Hiritala, Japanese mountain yam, Kachil, Kanta-alu, Kavalakodi, Ke si, Kokade, Korean yam, Medwan, Naga-imo, Nai sanga, Name chino, Naraikilangu, Pana alu, Pani-alu, Paspoli, Riya, Tamboli, Tega dumpa, Thabisa, Venilai valli, Vethalaivalli, Wai shan, Yamaimo, Yellagadda

Synonyms

Dioscorea opposita Thunb.; Dioscorea oppositifolia var. dukhunensis Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea oppositifolia var. linnaei Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea oppositifolia var. thwaitesii Prain & Burkill;