Gudu-gudu, Zanzibar yam
Dioscorea sansibarensis

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. The vine is 6-25 m high. The tubers occur singly and are rounded. They are 50 cm across. They are near the soil surface. The stems twine to the left. It does not have spines or only blunt, flattened spines. The leaves are opposite. They taper to the tip. The edges of the leaves are thickened and often roll inwards. The young leaves have 3-9 deep lobes. There are usually bulbils along the vine. These are up to 5 cm across. They are round but vary in colour and texture.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in subsaharan Africa. It is usually close to water or in forest near rivers. It grows between 200-650 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: The tuber contains alkaloids. It can contain a toxin which acts several hours after eating. The tubers are eaten.

It is commonly used in NW Madagascar. It is cultivated in some places.

Edible parts

Tubers, caution, root

How it is grown

Tubers can be 30 kg weight.

Its other names

Local names

Fanfanga, Ndranara, Ofaka, Ofimamy, Veoveo

Synonyms

Dioscorea macabiha Jum. & H. Perrier; Dioscorea macroura Harms; Dioscorea welwitschii Rendle;