About the plant
This yam species is native to Himalayan forests, from Kashmir and Punjab eastwards to Nepal and China.
-
Not yet evaluated
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of the world’s species. The ongoing mission is to evaluate every plant species in the world.
IUCN Red List Status:
Not yet evaluatedData deficientLeast concernNear threatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically endangeredExtinct in the wildExtinct -
MedicinePlant or components of this plant are used in medicine
Facts
- Inedible yam
- Perennial climber
By Dinesh Valke from flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
No good for eating
Many of the 600+ yam species produce edible tubers (or yams) that are a staple food crop for many millions of people, especially in West Africa.
But this yam species produces inedible rhizomes or roots that branch horizontally underground.
The rhizome is however rich in a steroid that can be used to create vital drugs including anti-inflammatories and asthma inhalers. Yam species from Mexico were the original source of steroids for the birth control pill.
-
Not yet evaluated
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of the world’s species. The ongoing mission is to evaluate every plant species in the world.
IUCN Red List Status:
Not yet evaluatedData deficientLeast concernNear threatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically endangeredExtinct in the wildExtinct -
MedicinePlant or components of this plant are used in medicine