Dioscorea cochleariapiculata

De Willd.

Dioscoreaceae Edible: Tubers, Root, Caution Potential hazards — see below

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MBG

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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Description

A yam. It is a climbing herb 10 m long. It has a single tuber with 4 lobes or there can be 4-5 tubers in a cluster. They are 10 cm across and a flattened round shape. They grow near the soil surface. The stem twines to the left. There are prickles near the base. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. These are rounded and have a tip at the end. There are often compound male flowers present when the leaves are just forming. The fruit is a capsule about 5 cm long by 2 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The tubers are used as a famine food after extensive cooking and processing—they must be washed and dried to remove alkaloids before consumption.

Traditional Uses

The tubers are used as a famine food after cooking and washing and drying to remove alkaloids.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

The tubers contain alkaloids that must be removed by washing and drying before the plant is safe to eat.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows near the edges of forests and in termite mounds. It is often on sandy soils and near streams. It grows between 400-1,600 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Prefers well-drained, sandy soils in the wild.

Other Information

A famine food.

Synonyms

Dioscorea stolzii R. Knuth

Also Known As

Iligam Itugu, Ishariga, Kilumbu, Matembe, Mpeta, Ndia, Numbu

References (6)

Bruschi, P., et al, 2014, Traditional use of plants in a rural community of Mozambique and possible links with Miombo degradation and harvesting sustainability. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2014, 10:59
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 66
http://aflora.africa.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Ruffo, C. K., Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B., 2002, Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. RELMA p 278
Wilkin, P., 2001, Dioscoreaceae of South-Central Africa. Kew Bulletin, Vol. 56, No. 2 (2001), pp 361-404

Show all 6 references