Dioscorea kamoonensis

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. The tubers are usually almost oval. The stem twines to the left. They have brown hairs when young. There are bulbils on the stem. The leaves are alternate and have 3 to 5 leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. They are more pale underneath. The leaf stalks are 2-10 cm long. The leaflets are oval and 2-14 cm long by 1-5 cm wide.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in secondary scrub forests between 500-2,900 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The underground tuber is boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, bulbil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gli, Jia dohsew, Rani vyakur, Tyaguna

Synonyms

Dioscorea bonatiana Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea brevifolia (Prain & Burkill) K.Y.Guan & D.F.Chamb.; Dioscorea dissecta R.Knuth; Dioscorea fargesii Franch.; Dioscorea firma R.Knuth; Dioscorea kamoonensis var. brevifolia Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea kamoonensis var. fargesii (Franch.) Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea kamoonensis var. praecox Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea kamoonensis var. straminea Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea kamoonensis var. vera Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea mairei R.Knuth [Illegitimate]; Dioscorea mengtzeana R.Knuth; Dioscorea ochroleuca K.Y.Guan & D.F.Chamb.; Dioscorea subfusca R.Knuth;