Lesser Yam

Description

The plant's stems are round and thin, with big, black compound spines that are 2-4 cm long. The leaves are soft, heart-shaped, and 5-8 cm long and 6-8 cm wide. Dioscorea esculenta, commonly known as the lesser yam, is a yam species, but with a smaller corm than most other yams. It is closer in size to a potato or sweet potato. In Vietnam, it is called khoai từ or củ từ. It is used to make chè củ từ, also referred to as chè khoai từ. In Tagalog, it is known as "tugi". It is cultivated in Kerala, Goa, Konkan parts of maharashtra India. In Malayalam, it is known as "Nana Kizhangu" or Cheruvalli Kizhangu" or Cheru Kizhangu". In Goa in konkani it is called khat khondghi, It is a climber which needs support and goes coiling around the support. The corm is edible.