Preuss' dioscorea
Dioscorea preussii

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. The vines can be 30 m long. There are 1 or 2 tubers. They are 2 cm wide and 50 cm long. These extend downwards into the soil and become fatter with depth.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary clearings in rainforest in Congo. It suits humid locations. It grows in woodland savannah, along rivers and in palm groves.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The tubers are eaten in times of famine.

They are also cultivated. It is often a famine food.

Edible parts

Tubers, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

aka, AmambBombopale, Dandam-o, Dandam, Dena fare, Etete, Etoco-n'sanha, Etoe, Mala, Munhanha, N'paba, Umpaba

Synonyms

Dioscorea longespicata De Wildemann; Dioscorea pterocaulon De Wildemann & T. Du; Dioscorea thonneri De Wildemann & T. Duran; Dioscorea andongensis Rendle; Dioscorea preussii Pax var. glabra Burkill;