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''Dioscorea polystachya'' or Chinese yam ( zh, s=山药, t=山藥), also called cinnamon-vine, is a species of flowering plant in the yam family. It is sometimes called Chinese potato or by its Korean name ''ma''. It is a perennial climbing
vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...
, native to East Asia. The edible
tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...
s are cultivated largely in Asia and sometimes used in
alternative medicine Alternative medicine is any practice that aims to achieve the healing effects of medicine despite lacking biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or evidence from clinical trials. Complementary medicine (CM), complementary and al ...
. This species of yam is unique as the tubers can be eaten raw.


Range

This plant grows throughout
East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea ...
. It is believed to have been introduced to Japan in the 17th century or earlier. Introduced to the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
as early as the 19th century for culinary and cultural uses, it is now considered an invasive plant species.Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States, entry for ''Dioscorea polystachya''
/ref> The plant was introduced to
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
in the 19th century during the
European Potato Failure The European Potato Failure was a food crisis caused by potato blight that struck Northern and Western Europe in the mid-1840s. The time is also known as the Hungry Forties. While the crisis produced excess mortality and suffering across the aff ...
, where cultivation continues to this day for the Asian food market.


Taxonomy

The
botanical name A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the ''International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants'' (ICN) and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar or Group epithets must conform to the ''Interna ...
s ''Dioscorea opposita'' and ''
Dioscorea oppositifolia ''Dioscorea oppositifolia'' is a type of yam ('' Dioscorea'') native to Myanmar (Burma) and to the Indian Subcontinent ( India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh). Taxonomy The plant previously called ''D. opposita'' is now considered to be the same s ...
'' have been consistently misapplied to Chinese yam. The name ''D. opposita'' is now an accepted
synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are al ...
of ''D. oppositifolia''. Botanical works that point out the error may list, e.g., ''Dioscorea opposita'' auct. as a synonym of ''D. polystachya''. Furthermore, neither ''D. oppositifolia'' nor the prior ''D. opposita'' have been found growing in North America and have no historical range in China or East Asia, this grouping is native only to the subcontinent of India and should not be confused with ''Dioscorea polystachya''.


Description

''Dioscorea polystachya'' vines typically grow 3–5 meters long, but can be longer. They twine clockwise. The leaves are up to 11 centimeters long and wide. They are lobed at the base and larger ones may have lobed edges. The arrangement is variable; they may be alternately or oppositely arranged or borne in whorls. In the leaf axils appear warty rounded
bulbil A bulbil (also referred to as bulbel, bulblet, and/or pup) is a small, young plant that is reproduced vegetatively from axillary buds on the parent plant's stem or in place of a flower on an inflorescence. These young plants are clones of the par ...
s under 2 centimeters long. The bulbils are sometimes informally referred to as "yam berries" or "yamberries". New plants sprout from the bulbils or parts of them. The flowers of Chinese yam are
cinnamon Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus '' Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakf ...
-scented. The plant produces one or more spindle-shaped or cylindrical tubers. The largest may weigh 10 pounds and grow one meter underground. ''Dioscorea polystachya'' is more tolerant to frost and cooler climates than other yams, which is attributed to its successful introductions and establishment on many continents.


Common names

In Chinese it is known as ''shānyào'' ( zh, s=山药, t= 山藥, l=mountain medicine), ''huáishān'' ( zh, s=怀山, t=懷山, labels=no or zh, c=淮山, labels=no), or ''huáishānyào'' ( zh, s=怀山药, t=懷山藥, labels=no or zh, s=淮山药, t=淮山藥, labels=no, l=mountain medicine from Huai, i.e. the Huai Qing Fu ( zh, s=怀庆俯, t=懷慶俯, labels=no) region). Rarely, it is also referred to as ''shǔyù'' ( zh, t= 薯蕷, s=薯蓣, labels=no). The yam bulbils are referred to as ''shanyao dou'' ( zh, s=山药豆, t=山藥豆, l=yam bean, labels=no) or ''shanyao dan'' ( zh, s=山药蛋, t=山藥蛋, l=yam eggs, labels=no). In Japan, three groups of this species in cultivation are recognized. The common long, cylindrical type is known as . The bears a flat, shape, and the is round or . The term is used particularly in the Kantō region for the ''ichōimo'' in the market, but this is confusing since traditionally ''yamatoimo'' has also referred to ''tsukuneimo'', especially if produced in
Yamato Province was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005). "Yamato" in . It was also called . Yamato consists of two characters, 大 "great", and 和 " Wa". At first, th ...
(now
Nara Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,321,805 and has a geographic area of . Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north, Osaka Prefecture to the northwest, Wakaya ...
). Cultivars of this species (such as ''yamatoimo'') is sometimes called "Japanese mountain yam", though that term should properly be reserved for the native '' Dioscorea japonica''. In Korea it is called ''ma'' (), ''sanu'' (), ''seoyeo'' (), or ''sanyak'' (). In Sri Lanka in Sinhala it is called ''wal ala'' (). It is sometimes called Korean yam. In Vietnam, the yam is called ''củ mài'' or ''khoai mài''. When this yam is processed to become a medicine, the yam is called ''hoài sơn'' or ''tỳ giải''. In the Ilocano of the northern Philippines it is called ''tuge''. In
Latin American Latin Americans ( es, Latinoamericanos; pt, Latino-americanos; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-e ...
countries it is known as white name or white ñame. In Manipuri it is called as "Ha".


In alternative medicine

Creams and dietary supplements made from the related ''
Dioscorea villosa ''Dioscorea villosa'' is a species of twining tuberous vine which is native to eastern North America. It is commonly known as wild yam, colic root, rheumatism root, devil's bones, and fourleaf yam,. It is common and widespread in a range stretchi ...
'' are claimed to contain human hormones and promoted as a medicine for a variety of purposes, including
cancer prevention Cancer prevention is the practice of taking active measures to decrease the incidence of cancer and mortality. The practice of prevention is dependent upon both individual efforts to improve lifestyle and seek preventive screening, and socioeconom ...
and the treatment of
Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, abdominal distensi ...
and
whooping cough Whooping cough, also known as pertussis or the 100-day cough, is a highly contagious bacterial disease. Initial symptoms are usually similar to those of the common cold with a runny nose, fever, and mild cough, but these are followed by two or t ...
. However, according to the
American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than ...
, the claims are false and there is no evidence to support these substances being either safe or effective. Huáishān has also been used in traditional Chinese medicine.


As an invasive species

''Dioscorea polystachya'' was introduced to the United States in the 1800s when it was planted as an ornamental or food crop. It and other introduced yam species now grow wild there. It is troublesome in
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an American national park in the southeastern United States, with parts in North Carolina and Tennessee. The park straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, w ...
, where its range is "rapidly expanding", particularly into the Tennessee Valley where different native, hybrid and/or invasive non-native variants of morning glory and bindweed as well as invasive kudzu and dodder have all become problematic and are similar in appearance to the fast-moving and often mishandled tubers. As Chinese yam and air potatoes continue to destroy entire swaths of gardens and yards though are not yet classified as invasive in these areas, residents seeking to eat the tuber plant their vines in unprotected land while residents seeking removal chop the tops off of vines at ground level and compost them or turn them into mulch for years before realizing this only makes their problem much worse and that no weed killers on the market, state recommended or otherwise do a decent job at ridding a garden or yard of this nuisance. The newest solution from Florida for people in Florida and surrounding states experiencing harm to their property and wishing a reprieve from these plant pests is to request free Air Potato Beetles. However, the beetles continue to elude Tennesseans due to various government regulations and the lack of others. It is most prevalent in moist habitat types. It is more tolerant of frost than other yams and can occur in temperate climates as far north as
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
.


Uses

The tubers of ''D. polystachya'' can be eaten raw (grated or sliced), while most other yams must be cooked before consumption (due to harmful substances in the raw state). First the skin needs to be removed by peeling (or by scraping off using a hard-bristled brush). This may cause a slight irritation to the hand, and wearing a latex glove is advised, but if an itch develops then lemon juice or vinegar may be applied. The peeled whole
tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...
s are briefly soaked in a vinegar-water solution, to neutralize irritant
oxalate Oxalate (IUPAC: ethanedioate) is an anion with the formula C2O42−. This dianion is colorless. It occurs naturally, including in some foods. It forms a variety of salts, for example sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4), and several esters such as dimethyl ...
crystals found in their skin, and to prevent discoloration. The raw vegetable is starchy and bland,
mucilaginous Mucilage is a thick, gluey substance produced by nearly all plants and some microorganisms. These microorganisms include protists which use it for their locomotion. The direction of their movement is always opposite to that of the secretion of ...
when cut or grated, and may be eaten plain as a side dish, or added to noodles, etc.


Japanese cuisine

In Japanese cuisine, both the Chinese yam cultivars and the
Japanese yam ''Dioscorea japonica'', known as East Asian mountain yam, yamaimo, or Japanese mountain yam, is a type of yam (''Dioscorea'') native to Japan (including Ryukyu and Bonin Islands), Korea, China, Taiwan, and Assam. ''Dioscorea japonica'' is used ...
(often wild foraged) are used interchangeably in dishes. The difference is that the ''nagaimo'' tends to be more watery, while the native Japanese yam is more viscous. The is the mucilaginous
purée A purée (or mash) is cooked food, usually vegetables, fruits or legumes, that has been ground, pressed, blended or sieved to the consistency of a creamy paste or liquid. Purées of specific foods are often known by specific names, e.g., app ...
made by grating varieties the Chinese yam (''nagaimo'', ''ichōimo'', ''tsukuneimo'') or the native Japanese yam. The classic Japanese culinary technique is to grate the yam by grinding it against the rough grooved surface of a '' suribachi'', which is an earthenware mortar. Or the yam is first grated crudely using an ''
oroshigane , also known as , are graters used in Japanese cooking. differ significantly from Western-style graters, as they produce a much finer grating. Traditionally, these graters were tin-coated copper plates with many small spikes gouged out of t ...
'' grater, and subsequently worked into a smoother paste in the ''suribachi'' using a wooden pestle. The ''tororo'' is mixed with other ingredients that typically include ''tsuyu'' broth (
soy sauce Soy sauce (also called simply soy in American English and soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and ''Aspergillus oryzae'' or '' As ...
and
dashi is a family of stocks used in Japanese cuisine. ''Dashi'' forms the base for miso soup, clear broth soup, noodle broth soup, and many simmering liquids to accentuate the savory flavor known as umami. ''Dashi'' is also mixed into the flour b ...
), sometimes
wasabi Wasabi ( Japanese: , , or , ; ''Eutrema japonicum'' or ''Wasabia japonica'') or Japanese horseradish is a plant of the family Brassicaceae, which also includes horseradish and mustard in other genera. The plant is native to Japan and the Russi ...
or
green onions "Green Onions" is an instrumental composition recorded in 1962 by Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Described as "one of the most popular instrumental rock and soul songs ever" and as one of "the most popular R&B instrumentals of its era", the tune is a ...
, and eaten over rice or (steam-cooked blend of rice and
barley Barley (''Hordeum vulgare''), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains, particularly in Eurasia as early as 10,000 years ago. Globally 70% of barley p ...
). The tororo poured over raw tuna ('' maguro'') sliced into cubes is called ''yamakake'', and eaten with soy sauce and
wasabi Wasabi ( Japanese: , , or , ; ''Eutrema japonicum'' or ''Wasabia japonica'') or Japanese horseradish is a plant of the family Brassicaceae, which also includes horseradish and mustard in other genera. The plant is native to Japan and the Russi ...
. The ''tororo'' may also be poured over noodles to make ''tororo
udon Udon ( or ) is a thick noodle made from wheat flour, used in Japanese cuisine. It is a comfort food for many Japanese people. There are a variety of ways it is prepared and served. Its simplest form is in a hot soup as with a mild broth called ...
/
soba Soba ( or , "buckwheat") is a thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat. The noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or hot in a noodle soup. The variety ''Nagano soba'' includes wheat flour. In Japan, soba noodles can be found ...
''. Noodles with grated yam over it is also called ''yamakake''. Grated yam is also used as
binding agent A binder or binding agent is any material or substance that holds or draws other materials together to form a cohesive whole mechanically, chemically, by adhesion or cohesion. In a more narrow sense, binders are liquid or dough-like substances th ...
in the batter of ''
okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients (mixed, or as toppings) cooked on a '' teppan'' (flat griddle). Common additions include cabbage, meat, and seafood, and toppings include ''okonomiyaki' ...
''. Sometimes the grated yam is used as an additive for making the skin of the
manjū is a traditional Japanese confection. Of the many varieties of manjū, most have an outside made from flour, rice powder, kudzu, and buckwheat, and a filling of ''anko'' (red bean paste), usually made from boiled adzuki beans and sugar. ''Man ...
confection, in which case the product is called . The yam is also used in the making a regional confection called '' karukan'', a specialty of the
Kyūshū is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...
region.


Chinese cuisine

Chinese yam is referred to as ''shānyào'' ( zh, s=山药, t=山藥, labels=no) in Chinese and the tuber is consumed raw, steamed or deep-fried. It is added to savory soups, or can be sweetened with a berry sauce.


Korean cuisine

In
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...
, there are two main types of Chinese yam: The straight, tube-shaped variant is called ''jangma'' (), while ''danma'' () refers to the variant, which grows shorter, cluster-like tubes. Both are used in cooking and the tubers are prepared in a variety of ways. They are most commonly consumed raw, after the skinned roots have been blended with water, milk or yogurt (occasionally with additional honey) to create a nourishing drink known as ''majeup'' () or "''ma'' juice" (). Alternatively, the peeled tubers are cut into pieces and served—either raw, after cooking, steaming or frying, along with seasoning sauces.


Growing Chinese yam

The Chinese yam's growing cycle spans approximately one year, and should be planted between winter and spring. The traditional methods growing it are: using smaller tubers, top cut of bigger tubers or through cuttings of branches. The first two methods can produce 20 cm (7.8 in) long tubers and above. The latter produces smaller tubers (10 cm or 4 in) that are usually replanted for the next year. Between 7 and 9 months of replanting Chinese yam tubers, their leaves start to get dry (a common fact in plants that grow tubers), which indicates that the tubers are ready for harvest. In home gardens generally only what will be consumed is harvested, with the rest left in the pot in moist soil.


See also

*
Yam (vegetable) Yam is the common name for some plant species in the genus '' Dioscorea'' (family Dioscoreaceae) that form edible tubers. Yams are perennial herbaceous vines cultivated for the consumption of their starchy tubers in many temperate and tr ...
* ''
Dioscorea oppositifolia ''Dioscorea oppositifolia'' is a type of yam ('' Dioscorea'') native to Myanmar (Burma) and to the Indian Subcontinent ( India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh). Taxonomy The plant previously called ''D. opposita'' is now considered to be the same s ...
'' * ''
Dioscorea villosa ''Dioscorea villosa'' is a species of twining tuberous vine which is native to eastern North America. It is commonly known as wild yam, colic root, rheumatism root, devil's bones, and fourleaf yam,. It is common and widespread in a range stretchi ...
'' *
Diosgenin Diosgenin, a phytosteroid sapogenin, is the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes of saponins, extracted from the tubers of '' Dioscorea'' wild yam species, such as the Kokoro. The sugar-free ( aglycone) product of such hy ...
*
List of ineffective cancer treatments This is a non-exhaustive list of alternative treatments that have been promoted to treat or prevent cancer in humans but which lack scientific and medical evidence of effectiveness. In many cases, there is scientific evidence that the alleged tr ...
* '' Tremella fuciformis''


References

;Citations ;Bibliography *


External links

* Walck, J. L., et al. (2010)
Understanding the germination of bulbils from an ecological perspective: a case study on Chinese yam (''Dioscorea polystachya'').
''Ann Bot'' 106 (6): 945–955. * Plants for a Future.
Dioscorea batatas
' *
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, Chinese yam ''Dioscorea polystachya'' Turcz.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinese yam Root vegetables Yams (vegetable) Dioscorea Flora of Eastern Asia Flora of China Tropical agriculture Plants described in 1837 Edible plants Taxa named by Nikolai Turczaninow