Sweet yam, Cush-cush yam
Dioscorea trifida

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam vine. The stem is square in cross section and does not have spines. The leaves are 25 cm long. They are opposite. The leaf is divided like fingers on a hand into 3 or more segments. The male flower is on a long stalk and the female flower stalk is short. It easily produces seed. The underground tuber is irregular in shape. It can be 70 cm long. Varieties can range in colour from white to purple and black.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is indigenous to Central America. It suits a cooler climate than other yams. It grows in areas with temperatures between 25-30°C. The rainfall is 1,500-2,000 mm per year. It cannot tolerate frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, Antilles, Benin, Brazil, Burundi, Caribbean (country/location of origin), Central Africa, Central America, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The tubers are cooked and eaten. They can be baked or boiled. They are also mashed and used in soup.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Tubers are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Tubers, vegetable, root

How it is grown

Normally small whole tubers are used for planting. Large tubers can be cut into small pieces and planted. Top pieces of the tuber are best. It can be grown from seed in a nursery and the seedlings transplanted.

Plants take 9-10 months to mature. Tubers will store in cool, dry, well-ventilated places for a while. Yields of 15-20 tonnes per hectare have been achieved.

Its other names

Local names

Aja e, Cara amazonico, Cara branco, Cara doce, Chambo, Chilma, Couche couche, Drun nuen, Indian yam, Indienne, Inhame roxo, Japecanga, Kenke, Maona, Mapuey, Name blanco, Name, Nampi, Papa chambo, Sachapapa, Tsanbu, Yampi yam

Synonyms

Dioscorea affinis Kunth; Dioscorea angustifolia Rusby [Illegitimate]; Dioscorea articulata Steud.; Dioscorea brasiliensis Willd.; Dioscorea goyazensis Griseb.; Dioscorea palmata Juss. ex Pers.; Dioscorea quinquelobata Vell. [Illegitimate]; Dioscorea ruiziana Klotsch ex Kunth.; Dioscorea triloba Lam.; Dioscorea triloba Willd. [Illegitimate];