Dioscorea baya
Family: Dioscoreaceae
What it is like
A yam. The tubers are large and have a woody covering over them. The stems twine to the right. They have curved prickles near the base. These can be 1 cm long. The stems do not have bulbils. The leaves are usually opposite. The leaf blade is entire. They taper to the tip that is 1 cm long. There are 2 varieties both of which have edible tubers.
There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. In Congo it grows at about 500 m altitude. It grows in open areas in forest. It can grow in swampy areas.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia
How it is used for food
The tubers are cooked and eaten as a starchy staple.
Edible parts
Tubers, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ikuse, Mpundi, Tumba