Dioscorea abyssinica
Family: Dioscoreaceae
What it is like
A yam. It is a climber. It grows 4 m high. It can have vines 20 m long. It does not have spines. It twines right-handed. It usually produces one tuber. The tuber is deep in the ground and therefore hard to harvest. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are a rounded heart shape. The flowers are white and cup shaped. The fruit are capsules. There are several cultivated forms.
There are about 850 Dioscorea species. There are about 60 that are edible and 10 that are significant.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in the Sahel region. It can grow in arid places. It suits areas with an alternating wet and dry season. It is best in a sunny position in dry soil. It cannot tolerate frost.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia
How it is used for food
The tubers need to be boiled or roasted.
It is a cultivated plant.
Edible parts
Tubers, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Agbo, Bekui, Bemba, Bohe, Boye, Diabongua, Diga,Dika, Dionfini, Dooya, Edwiw, Kape