Dioscorea hirtiflora

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. There are 1-6 tubers. They are up to 5 cm across. They are narrow and extend downwards into the soil. The stems twine right-handed. They do not have prickles. They can climb 6 m high. The leaves are usually opposite and the leaf blade in entire. The leaves are 6 cm across. The flowers are in loose arrangements. There are 3 subspecies.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the savannah.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Congo R, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: The tubers have to have the toxins removed before eating. They need to be soaked for a long time. They are then cooked and eaten.

A famine food. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, bulbils, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Danda dion, Denda fara, Esssende, Inhame-di-mato, Kapol-forro, Mng'oko, Nhame-de-lobo

Synonyms

Dioscorea rubiginosa Benth.; Dioscorea polyantha Rendle; Dioscorea hirtiflora var. trapnellii Burkill;