Nepal yam
Dioscorea deltoidea
Family: Dioscoreaceae
What it is like
A yam. It is a climbing herb. The rhizome lies horizontal and is ginger shaped. It is 1.2-1.5 cm thick. The stem winds left. The leaves are alternate. They are 6-12 cm long by 5.5-10 cm wide. They are broadly oval to heart shaped. They are long pointed. There are 5-7 veins. The male flowers are single, small and white. The female flowers are single and slender. The fruit is a capsule.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in broad leafed forest between 2000 and 3100 m altitude in Southern China. They grow throughout Nepal from 300-3000 m altitude. They grow in moist open places. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The tuberous root is slightly bitter so it is boiled and mixed with wood ash then cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The tubers are also repeatedly boiled, washed and then baked. They are also dried then boiled. It is also used to make a drink. The tubers are rich in saponins - used as soap.
It is sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Root, tuber, bulbils
How it is grown
They can be grown from seed or root tubers.
Its other names
Local names
Aruwa, Ban tarul, Bhyakur, Bloin, Eghen ngenki, Gun, Gune kauro, Kamanduki, Kande vyakur, Keerish, Kencheong sangrik, Kildri, Kins, Kithi, Kitra, Kniss, Krish, Kriss, Kui goi, Kukur tarul, Kurkurtarul, Kurukanda, Luanba, Peng-khe, Ridme, Rua ba, San jiao ye shu yu, Saplokha, Singli mingli, Tar, Tarul, Tarur, Temee, Thaphu miyung, Vaykur, Vyakur