Dioscorea smilacifolia

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. The tubers keep developing from year to year. The vines are spiny and grow 4 m high. The twine right handed. There can be bulbils along the vines.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary clearings in rainforest in Congo. It suits humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial-Guinea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, West Africa

How it is used for food

Caution: The tuber needs careful preparation.

It is a popular food.

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Amekiki, Akpa, Akponi, Apa, Baloko, Ekoko, Etaba, Ewo, Kokora, Kpeimkoh

Synonyms

Dioscorea demeusei De Wild. & T. Durand; Dioscorea echinulata De Wild.; Dioscorea flamignii De Wild.; Dioscorea orbicularis A. Chev. ex De Wild. [Invalid]; Dioscorea praehensilis auct.;