Gathering the Seeds of Wisdom-- The Name' tuber

'Name' the Plant of Many Names

The Chinese yam, Shan Yao, Cinnamon Vine, Korean Wild Yam...NAME'

Sometimes, when my kids are being especially well behaved-- getting good grades, being helpful, doing their part without complaining...you know the drill...I let them pick out anything they want from the produce section.  Yes, this is dangerous.  And, NO, they don't have Durian/ Jackfruit where I shop when this occurs.  A couple weeks back, my son brings up this tuber that looks like a handgun out of StarWars.  Name' was it's name.

🔍 Let's Check it Out  👀👀👀

Herb: Chinese Yam

Latin name: Dioscorea batatas

Synonyms: Dioscorea opposita, Dioscorea polystachya

Family: Dioscoreaceae (Yam Family)

Medicinal use of Chinese Yam: 

The Chinese yam, called Shan Yao in Chinese herbalism, is a sweet soothing herb that stimulates the stomach and spleen and has a tonic effect on the lungs and kidneys. The tuber contains allantoin, a cell-proliferant that speeds the healing process. The root is an ingredient of "The herb of eight ingredients", traditionally prescribed in Chinese herbalism to treat hyperthyroidism, nephritis and diabetes. The tuber is anthelmintic, digestive, and gently tonic. It is used internally in the treatment of tiredness, weight loss, poor appetite, poor digestion, chronic diarrhea, asthma, dry coughs, frequent or uncontrollable urination, diabetes and emotional instability. It is applied externally to ulcers, boils and abscesses. 

The tubers are harvested in the autumn and can be used raw or baked. The leaf juice is used to treat snakebites and scorpion stings. The roots of most, if not all, members of this genus, contains diosgenin. This is widely used in modern medicine in order to manufacture progesterone and other steroid drugs. These are used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the genitary organs as well as in a host of other diseases such as asthma and arthritis.

Description of the plant:

Plant:

Perennial

Height:

3 m
(9 ³/₄ foot)

Flowering:

September
to October

Scent:

Scented
Perennial

Habitat of the herb:

 

Found in an apparently wild situation in valleys and on the slopes of hills in China. Prefers sunny slopes in the wild.

Edible parts of Chinese Yam: 

Tuber - cooked. A floury texture with a very pleasant flavor that is rather like a potato. The tubers can be boiled, baked, fried, mashed, grated, and added to soups. They store well and for a long time and can also be left in the ground and harvested as required in the winter. This is a top-quality root crop, very suitable for use as a staple food. Arrowroot can be extracted from the root, though this is not as good at binding other foods as the starch from D. japonica. The root contains about 20% starch. 75% water, 0.1% vitamin B1, 10 - 15 mg% vitamin C. Fruit. A starchy flavor, it is said to be very good for the health. We wonder if this report is referring to the tubercles.

Propagation of the herb:

 

Seed - sow March to April in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse and only just cover. It germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 20degrees C. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow in a greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring as the plant comes into new growth. Basal stem cuttings in the summer. Division in the dormant season, never when in growth. 

The plant will often produce a number of shoots, the top 5 - 10 cm of the root below each shoot can be potted up to form a new plant whilst the lower part of the root can be eaten. Tubercles (baby tubers) are formed in the leaf axils. These are harvested in late summer and early autumn when about the size of a pea and coming away easily from the plant. They should be potted up immediately in individual pots in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame, covering them with about 10mm of soil. 

Protect them from mice etc and keep the soil moist but not wet. They should come into growth in the spring, plant them out in early summer when in active growth.

Cultivation of Chinese Yam:

 

Found in an apparently wild situation in valleys and on the slopes of hills in China. Prefers sunny slopes in the wild.

Known hazards of Dioscorea batatas:

 

Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves while poisonous species have alternate leaves. From Natural Medicinal Herbs.net

Common name for Name?  Cinnamon Vine 

There is some confusion over the correct name for this species. One report says that D. batatas is an invalid name that is often erroneously applied to two distinct species D. opposita and D. japonica. The Flora of China accepts D. batatas as a synonym for D. polystachya. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Forum thread on Houzz.com

(Dioscorea batatas) Cinnamon scented flowers and heart-shaped leaves adorn this vigorous deciduous vine. In the mountains of northern China, it produces very large, highly prized, white-fleshed tubers with a nutty potato flavor. Raintreenursery.com  

While the top dies back each November, the tubers can be left in the ground for several years to keep growing. One gallon pot. This plant is self-fertile and grows in USDA Zones 4-8.

Because yams produce a very vertical root, it is possible to grow a number of plants very close to each other, perhaps at 20 - 30cm spacing. You also get a better overall yield if you leave the plants in the ground for two years. Exceedingly high yields are possible, certainly quite a bit higher than potatoes and with none of the disease problems associated with that plant. From Plants for a Future .Org

Recipes

The tubers can be boiled, baked, fried, mashed, grated and added to soups. They store well and for a long time, and can also be left in the ground and harvested as required in the winter. They contain about 20% starch. 75% water, 0.1% vitamin B1, 10 - 15 mg % vitamin C.

Sourcing

Melissa’s .com Products  

When selecting Melissa’s Name look for well-formed, similarly shaped tubers. Name should be firm and free of cracks or soft spots. The flesh should be juicy, not dry. Store whole in a cool, dark, dry area for up to one week.

The skin of the Name should be scrubbed with a brush under running water prior to use. To easily peel, cut into cubes. With a knife cut out the flesh and remove all skin. Place in a bowl of water and lemon juice until ready for use.

Interesting?  

Chinese Herbal products made from this herb

Natural Korean Wild Yam Powder Dioscorea Batatas Tea Soup Herb Super Food