Yam, Damloong chruk
Dioscorea oryzetorum

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A yam. It is a climbing vine. It climbs 4 m tall. There are several tubers with white flesh. They are 50 cm long by 3-7 mm wide. They are spreading and cylinder shaped with thickened tips. The vines are 1.5-2.5 mm across and they twine to the right. They have fine ridges along them. The leaves are simple and opposite. The leaf blades are narrowly sword shaped and have 3 veins. The leaf stalks are 1-3 cm long.

There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open paddy fields and plains.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The tubers can be eaten cooked.

Edible parts

Tuber, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Damlong chrouk

Synonyms

Dioscorea oryzetorum var. angustifolia Prain & Burkill;