Dioscorea batatas Chinese yam (Dioscoreaceae)

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Dioscorea batatas
Chinese yam
(1 Page of 5)

The Dioscorea batatas plant species is found in Temperate E. Asia, though the exact range is not known. It is a member of the Dioscoreaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Chinese yam. Some home gardeners know the variety as D. divaricata. D. opposita. Thunb.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Dioscorea batatas
Common Name:  Chinese yam
Family:  Dioscoreaceae
Author:  Decne.

Known Hazards:  Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves[174].

Mature Height:  3   Mature Width:  1.5

Habitat:  Found in an apparently wild situation in valleys and on the slopes of hills in China[147]. Prefers sunny slopes in the wild[254].

Edible Uses: Tuber - cooked[1, 46, 61, 105]. A floury texture[27] with a very pleasant flavour that is rather like a potato[K]. The tubers can be boiled, baked, fried, mashed, grated and added to soups[183]. They store well and for a long time[27, 37] and can also be left in the ground and harvested as required in the winter[K]. This is a top quality root crop, very suitable for use as a staple food[K]. An arrowroot can be extracted from the root[46], though this is not as good at binding other foods as the starch from D. japonica[183]. The root contains about 20% starch. 75% water, 0.1% vitamin B1, 10 - 15 mg% vitamin C[174]. Fruit. A starchy flavour, it is said to be very good for the health[206]. We wonder if this report is referring to the tubercles[K].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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