Dioscorea longicuspis

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. It is a vine 6 m long. It has a tuber 60 cm long and 10 cm across. The leaves are usually opposite but sometimes alternate. The leaf blade is oval to heart shaped. The leaves can be 12 cm long by 8 cm wide. They can have small hairs. The male flowers are in groups of up to 6 in the axils of leaves and along stalks that are 7-10 cm long. The flowers do not have stalks. The female flowers are in groups or 3 along stalks 25 cm long. The fruit capsule is 4 cm across. The seeds are round with wings. They are 2 cm across.

It is a vulnerable plant.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It occurs between 1,000-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Tanzania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Dioscorea schimperiana var. nigrescens Uline ex R. Knuth;