Dioscorea wallichii

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. The stem has prickles near the base. The stems twine in a right handed direction. The stems can be 20 m long. The tuber is up to 1 m long and 6 cm wide and deeply buried in the soil. The flesh is white. The leaves are a rounded heart shape. Plants are separately male and female.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mixed deciduous and evergreen forests. In southern China it grows on mountain slopes between 900-1,300 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The tubers are cooked and eaten. They are sliced and boiled and washed thoroughly.

It is a significant food plant in S. Thailand.

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Benne, Chaydu, Cherenga alu, Eghen ngeyuk, Han-alu, Kadat, Kruo, Pitalu, Purakilangu, Rang sanga, Rui nihang, Taw-thinbaw, Tunga kand, Yarex

Synonyms

Dioscorea wallichii var. christiei Prain & Burkill; Dioscorea wallichii var. vera Prain & Burkill;