Synonym: D. cayenensis var. praehensilis; Common names: Kisadi, sadi, Bisadi (Kongo), Igname de brousse (Fr.), bush yams, forest yam
Description
A sturdy climbing plant, up to 15 m long, growing from a large tuber that often protrudes from the ground. The latter is armed with curving, protective, spiny roots that arise from the top of the tuber. Stems are hairless, purplish-green, and lightly ribbed longitudinally.
The tuber has white flesh tinged yellow and may be either oblong or round. Leaves are 4 – 10 x 3 – 5 cm.
Ecology
Grows wild in forests and gallery forests from Sierra Leone to Nigeria and in Gabon and the Congo.
Uses
The young shoots growing from the vine are eaten like asparagus in Kongo Central. In Congo (Brazzaville) the older stems are cut up and an infusion is used for stomach complaints, urethral discharge, and oedemas. Tuber flesh is bitter and only eaten after careful preparation and usually as a famine food.
References
Dalziel 1937, Renier 1948, Coursey 1967, Burkill 1985, van der Burg 2004, Kibungu Kembelo 2010
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Text and all photos at this article © Paul Letham. The professional background and contact information of the author of this article can be found here.
.
