Re: Off topic question, Dioscorea sp.!
- Subject: Re: Off topic question, Dioscorea sp.!
- From: D* S*
- Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 18:48:17 -0600 (CST)
Julius -
Not sure which species you mean. If you're referring to the native
Dioscorea villosa, yes, it's edible, but probably not in portions
comparable to how one might eat "regular" potatoes. Native Americans
both ate it and used the dried roots medicinally (gastrointestinal
ailments and labour pains). According to the 'PDR for Herbal Medicines,'
you should avoid eating it if you're taking supplemental estrogen. ;-)
If you mean Dioscorea batatas (D. opposita) -- a/k/a cinnamon yam,
Chinese yam, Shan Yao -- which I *think* is the one commonly grown as the
"air potato" houseplant, the tubers are totally edible, grown as a food
crop throughout the Philippines and elsewhere. When grown in the ground
the little tubers can grow up to 3' long. I have it growing out in the
yard, but haven't dug up any tubers to measure them (I grow it as an
ornamental for the benefit/dismay of the "That can't be hardy!" people).
Apparently it has cinnamon-scented flowers, hence the common name, but
I've yet to see flowers here in Michigan.
Dean
On Fri, 28 Dec 2001 11:39:06 -0600 (CST) "Julius Boos"
<ju-bo@email.msn.com> writes:
> Dear Friends,
>
> This concerns the plant family Dioscoria, the true yams. This
> family has
> been considered as possibly being one of the relatives of the
> Araceae.
> My question is---does anyone know FOR SURE if the species that grows
> as a
> pest/weed here in S. and Cen. Florida, commonly called 'air
> potatoes', is
> edible?? I have heard/read two versions, one is that it IS edible,
