FOOD RESOURCE COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
DIOSCOREA PENTAPHYLLA, YAM
Hedrick, U.P. editor. 1919. Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants. Report of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station for the Year 1919 II. Albany, J.B Lyon Company, State Printers. [References Available]
is a Tropical Asia plant. In India, this yam is common in jungles and is found in the South Sea Islands. Wight has never seen it cultivated in India, although the natives dig the tubers to eat. it is cultivated in Amboina and sometimes in Viti. In India, the male flowers are sold in the bazaars and eaten as greens. The tubers are eaten in Viti and Hawaii. it is good yam. Graham says the tubers are dreadfully nauseous and intensely bitter even after being boileDatura They are put into toddy to render it more potent, as they have intoxicating properties, and a few slices are sufficient. In China, the "nauseous tubers are sometimes cooked and eaten."
