Wild yam
Dioscorea dregeana
Family: Dioscoreaceae
What it is like
A yam. It is a climbing herb. The stems are angular and downy. It has bulbs. The tuber is large and 30 cm across. There can be a cluster of tubers. The leaves are alternate with 3 leaflets. They are round and hairy underneath. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. Male flowers are green and female flowers are white. They are in small hanging clusters in the axils or leaves. The stems are spiny. It can grow 15 m high. The fruit are winged and 4 cm long.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid areas. It grows in woodland. It grows between 275-1,400 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland
How it is used for food
Caution: The tubers are poisonous without extensive preparation. The peeled tubers are leached in water for several days to remove the water soluble poison. They are then boiled and mixed with milk or maize porridge.
A famine food. It is sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Tubers, root, caution
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Imgcolo, Ingxolo, Ndiyaza