Dioscorea lanata
Family: Dioscoreaceae
What it is like
A yam. A vines are long and trailing. The leaves are heart shaped and large. The fruit are 3-angled. The leaves die back in the summer dry period.
There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in semi-deciduous woodland in Socotra. It grows between 250-1,100 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Middle East, Yemen
How it is used for food
It is an important tuber crop in Yemen.
Edible parts
Roots, tuber