Dioscorea alata – also called ube, ubi, uwhi, purple yam, winged yam, or greater yam, among many other names – is a species of yam (a tuber). The tubers are usually a vivid violet-purple to bright lavender (hence the common name), but some range from creamy-white to plain white. Although it is sometimes confused with taro and the Okinawa sweet potato beniimo (紅芋) (Ipomoea batatas 'Ayamurasaki'), D. alata is also grown in Okinawa. Its origins are in the Asian and Oceanian tropics. Some varieties attain great size. A mambatap greater yam grown in Maprik, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, around 1939 was 3.5 m (11 ft) in length.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Purple yam being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Dioscorea bulbifera
- Dioscorea seriflora
- Dioscorea japonica
- Dioscorea collettii
- Dioscorea transversa
- Dioscorea cordata
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Liliopsida
- Order
- Dioscoreales
- Family
- Dioscoreaceae
- Genus
- Dioscorea
- Species
- Dioscorea alata
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