Dioscorea longicuspis
R. Knuth
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
gbif· cc-by-nc-sa
MBG
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Description
A yam. It is a vine 6 m long. It has a tuber 60 cm long and 10 cm across. The leaves are usually opposite but sometimes alternate. The leaf blade is oval to heart shaped. The leaves can be 12 cm long by 8 cm wide. They can have small hairs. The male flowers are in groups of up to 6 in the axils of leaves and along stalks that are 7-10 cm long. The flowers do not have stalks. The female flowers are in groups or 3 along stalks 25 cm long. The fruit capsule is 4 cm across. The seeds are round with wings. They are 2 cm across.
Edible Uses
The tubers are eaten as a root vegetable.
Known Hazards
This is a vulnerable species.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It occurs between 1,000-2,000 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, East Africa, Tanzania,
Notes
It is a vulnerable plant.
Synonyms
References (1)
- Ruffo, C. K., Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B., 2002, Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. RELMA p 279
