Dioscorea cochleari-apiculata

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. It is a climbing herb 10 m long. It has a single tuber with 4 lobes or there can be 4-5 tubers in a cluster. They are 10 cm across and a flattened round shape. They grow near the soil surface. The stem twines to the left. There are prickles near the base. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. These are rounded and have a tip at the end. There are often compound male flowers present when the leaves are just forming. The fruit is a capsule about 5 cm long by 2 cm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows near the edges of forests and in termite mounds. It is often on sandy soils and near streams. It grows between 400-1,600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tubers are used as a famine food after cooking and washing and drying to remove alkaloids.

A famine food.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Iligam Itugu, Ishariga, Kilumbu, Matembe, Mpeta, Ndia, Numbu

Synonyms

Dioscorea stolzii R. Knuth;