Five leaflet yam
A tropical plant. They grow from sea level up to 1600 m. It needs a well drained, well aerated soil. They are best adapted to an abundant rainfall during the growing season and an annual dry season. Soils need to be fertile. Five leaflet yam or Dioscorea pentaphylla L. occurs mainly in China; Malaysia; India; Indonesia; the Philippines; Papua New Guinea and into the Pacific Islands. It is common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines. In Yunnan.
Also known as:
Allai, Alshi, Aser, Baha, Bantarul, Bayan alu, Bhaegur, Bhusa, Bhyagur, Bhyakur, Boiato, Chai, Chatavali, Chavi, Chedhukandhi, Chuinyan, Damlong teuk, De de, Dui yi bao, Dukapendalamu, Dure dari, Fi’i arakai, Gazaria, Gholongi, Hill, Huoyimian, Huwi dawata, Jabet, Jangli-alu, Kaadu gumbala, Kaile, Kala kand, Kanta alu, Kataalu Katavala, Kattukilangu, Kattukkillangu, Katuala, Kokolo, Kophrehro, Koshauk-rik, Kusok, Kyway-u, Lavati Aniv, Lima-lima, Man awn, Man hing, Mandi, Mithe tarul, Nakwa kanda, Nealengu, Nuraigenasu, Nurunnaki-langu, Nyivanyi, Pachpotia alu, Padmati, Pakatiro, Pan-dang, Parauara, Pas, Paspotia alu, Put-sa-u, Ram bahra, Ruipheng, Sapang, Ser, Shahada, Stenz, Suar alu, Tabongo, Taigun, Takuli, Tha bolong, Thaphin, Tokatolu, Ubi pasir, Ubi sakai, Ubi sanda, Ulashi, Ulasi, Uli, Utau, Vor dom loung teuk, Vymu dumpa, Yi bao
Synonyms
- Botryosicyos pentaphyllus (L.) Hochst.
- Dioscorea changjiangensis F. W. Xing & Z. X. Li
- Dioscorea codonopsidifolia Kamik.
- Dioscorea digitata Mill.
- Dioscorea globifera R. Knuth
- Dioscorea jacquemontii Hook.f.
- Dioscorea kleiniana Kunth
- Dioscorea pentaphylla var. - various
- Dioscorea spinosa Burm.
- Dioscorea triphylla L.
- Ubium quadrifarium J. F. Gmel.
- Ubium scandens J. St.-Hil.
Edible Portion
- Tubers, Root, Leaves, Flowers, Bulbils
Where does Five leaflet yam grow?
Found in: American Samoa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, China (Yunnan), Cook Is., Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, Yap
Notes: There are about 650 species of Dioscorea.
Status: This yam is not widely used in Papua New Guinea, but it can be found occasionally in many areas. It is sold in local markets.
Growing Five leaflet yam
Cultivation: They are grown from tubers or pieces of tubers. They can be grown from aerial tubers. The dormancy of the tuber can be short. They need stakes for support. Stakes of about 2 m are adequate although live stakes are often used. They often grow wild.
Edible Uses: The tubers are eaten boiled or roasted. The bulbils are also cooked and eaten. CAUTION Poisonous types of this yam also occur. These need to be cut into pieces then repeatedly boiled and put into running water or washed and baked. The leaves and flowers are reported to be eaten in India.
Production: Tubers are harvested after the vines die back.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 64 | 2.3 | 0.44 | - | 2.8 | 0.4 | 80 |
Five leaflet yam Photos
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