Common Name: Yoruba

General Information

Yoruba is a vigorous perennial climbing plant producing annual stems up to 6 metres long from a massive, perennial tuber[]. These stems scramble over the ground, or twine into the surrounding vegetation[]. The stems are non-spiny; square in cross-section; twine left-handed; and produce bulbils along the stem[]
Although the tuber is primarily considered a famine-food, it is spasmodically grown in many parts of Africa[]. There is evidence of its wider cultivation in olden times[]. The wild, poisonous plant is often grown on the edge of yam-fields in the hope that if thieves come along they will steal the toxic roots instead of the valuable yams within the field[].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant, especially the wild form, are poisonous[]. The tuber has been used as an ordeal-poison, whilst both the tuber, and the bulbil, are used for poisoning wild animals such as pigs that can cause damage to crops[]. They are also used as a fish-poison[].
The tuber contains dioscorine, dihydrodioscorine and other unnamed alkaloids[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Kenya, south to Angola, Mozambique and Madagascar.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Some selection to reduce toxicity has been practised, to the extent at least that in some races toxicity is confined to the upper part of the tuber[].
The leaves contain glands filled with a fluid holding nitrifying bacteria[].
Bulbils are produced at the leaf-axils, dark purplish brown and usually larger than those of D. bulbifera[]. The bulbils are adapted for water dispersal - at first they sink in water, then float and on being left by receding water will germinate[]. They are toxic and inedible[].

Edible Uses

Tuber - cooked[]. Usually considered to be a famine food, and only eaten when all else has failed[]. The tuber is sometimes of great weight - as much as 30 kg has been recorded[]. The raw tuber is poisonous, but can be eaten if the poison is removed, usually by cutting up, boiling and washing[].

Medicinal

The leaf-sap and a root-decoction are taken by draught for treating epilepsy[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: Type the digit seven into the box