Dioscorea polystachya

Chinese yam / Chinese Yam

Dioscoreaceae

Asia (east)

Edible plant part (1)

Fruits
Read 'form of consumption' for safe preparation methods

Chinese Yam belongs to the herbacious layer in the food forest. Fully grown the plant has an average height of 4 meter and a width of 0.3 meter.
This species forms a taproot root system.

Disclaimer: The types of cultivars and hybrids in this database have been carefully chosen for good quality properties for food forests. They do not mean instant success. Food forestry is still a young field in which it is a core value to have the right plant in the right place and to focus on great diversity.

foto: Don McCulley, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_yam_-_air-potato_-_dioscorea_polystachya_IMG_8134.jpg

foto: Don McCulley, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_yam_-_air-potato_-_dioscorea_polystachya_IMG_8134.jpg

foto: Bob Richmond, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dioscorea_polystachya_%284935758534%29.jpg

Growth factors

Frost (whole plant): very strong frost

cold frost

mild frost

light frost

no frost
Light: full sun

light shade

half shade

fairly deep shade

deep shade
Soil texture: sand

loam

light clay

heavy clay

peat
Soil moisture: inundation

wet

moist

dry

drought
Soil acidity: very acid

acid

slightly acid

neutral

alkaline
Soil fertility: very rich

rich

average

poor

very poor