Dunguey
Dioscorea altissima

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. It is a climbing plant with stems up to 10 m long. The stems are spiny with spines that curve back and are 1 cm long. The stems are angular and 1.5 cm across. The leaves are alternate. The leaves are large and oval but heart shaped at the base. They are 8-15 cm long by 7-16 cm wide. The edges are slightly wavy. They are shiny on the upper surface and dull underneath. It has a large tuberous rootstock. The flowers are in a simple spike. The fruit is a capsule 3 cm long.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moist forest. It has been recorded growing up to 2,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Hispaniola, Honduras, Lesser Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, St Lucia, Suriname, Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The tubers are cooked and eaten.

It is cultivated in some places.

Edible parts

Tuber, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Dioscorea balsapuertensis R. Knuth; Dioscorea calcarea R. Knuth; Dioscorea chondrocarpa Griseb.; Dioscorea hoehneana R. Knuth; Dioscorea maranonensis R. Knuth; Dioscorea nitida R. Knuth; Dioscorea poeppigii Kunth; Dioscorea rajanioides Uline ex R. Knuth; Dioscorea revillae Ayala; Dioscorea riparia Kunth & R. H. Schomb.; Dioscorea samydea Griseb.; Dioscorea samydea var. corcovadensis Uline ex R. Knuth; Dioscorea samydea var. poeppigii (Kunth) Ayala;