Five leaflet yam
Dioscorea pentaphylla
Family: Dioscoreaceae
What it is like
A yam with a climbing vine 2-5 m long. The stems have scattered small spines. There are small tubers found in the axils of the leaves as well as larger underground tubers. The leaves have 5 to 7 leaflets pointed at the tip and 8 to 15 cm long. Often the lower leaves have 5-7 leaflets and upper leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are spread out like fingers on a hand. The leaves are finely hairy. The flowers are small, yellowish white with a slight smell and borne in large numbers of flower clusters in the axils of leaves. The male flower spikes are 10-18 cm long and mostly occur as two together in the axil of a leaf. The female spikes occur as 1-3 together and are as long as the male ones. The fruit are winged capsules 8-12 mm long by 6-9 mm wide. The tubers vary in colour and shape. Often they are round and covered with long hairs.
There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They grow from sea level up to 1600 m. It needs a well drained, well aerated soil. They are best adapted to an abundant rainfall during the growing season and an annual dry season. Soils need to be fertile. Five leaflet yam or Dioscorea pentaphylla L. occurs mainly in China; Malaysia; India; Indonesia; the Philippines; Papua New Guinea and into the Pacific Islands. It is common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
American Samoa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, China (Yunnan), Cook Is., Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niue, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, Yap
How it is used for food
The tubers are eaten boiled or roasted. The bulbils are also cooked and eaten. CAUTION Poisonous types of this yam also occur. These need to be cut into pieces then repeatedly boiled and put into running water or washed and baked. The leaves and flowers are reported to be eaten in India.
This yam is not widely used in Papua New Guinea, but it can be found occasionally in many areas. It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Tubers, root, leaves, flowers, bulbils
How it is grown
They are grown from tubers or pieces of tubers. They can be grown from aerial tubers. The dormancy of the tuber can be short. They need stakes for support. Stakes of about 2 m are adequate although live stakes are often used. They often grow wild.
Tubers are harvested after the vines die back.
Its other names
Local names
Allai, Alshi, Aser, Babra, Baha, Bantarul, Bayan alu, Bhaegur, Bhusa, Bhyagur, Bhyakur, Boiato, C jing, Chai, Chatavali, Chavi, Chedhukandhi, Chuinyan, Damlong teuk, De de, Dui yi bao, Dukapendalamu, Dure dari, Fi’i arakai, Gazaria, Gholongi, Hill, Huoyimian, Huvdo, Huwi dawata, Jabet, Jangli-alu, Kaadu gumbala, Kaile, Kala kand, Kanta alu, Kataalu Katavala, Kattukilangu, Kattukkillangu, Katuala, Kokolo, Kophrehro, Koshauk-rik, Kusok, Kyway-u, Lavati Aniv, Lima-lima, Man awn, Man hing, Mandi, Mithe tarul, Nakwa kanda, Nealengu, Nuraigenasu, Nurunnaki-langu, Nyivanyi, Pachpotia alu, Padmati, Pakatiro, Pan-dang, Parauara, Pas, Paspotia alu, Pilita, Put-sa-u, Ram bahra, Ruipheng, Sapang, Ser, Shahada, Shanedvel,Stenz, Suar alu, Suarkand, Tabongo, Taigun, Takuli, Tha bolong, Thaphin, Tokatolu, Ubi pasir, Ubi sakai, Ubi sanda, Ulashi, Ulasi, Uli, Utau, Vor dom loung teuk, Vymu dumpa, Yi bao
Synonyms
Botryosicyos pentaphyllus (L.) Hochst.; Dioscorea changjiangensis F. W. Xing & Z. X. Li; Dioscorea codonopsidifolia Kamik.; Dioscorea digitata Mill.; Dioscorea globifera R. Knuth; Dioscorea jacquemontii Hook.f.; Dioscorea kleiniana Kunth; Dioscorea pentaphylla var. - various; Dioscorea spinosa Burm.; Dioscorea triphylla L.; Ubium quadrifarium J. F. Gmel.; Ubium scandens J. St.-Hil.;