air-potato yam

The air potato, scientifically known as Dioscorea bulbifera, is an Asian yam species. It is sometimes cultivated for its large, potato-like tubers that grow in the leaf axils. Yams, in general, are plants from the genus Dioscorea grown for their edible tubers, which are consumed as starchy vegetables. These tubers, often with thick, barklike skin, develop from the base of the plant's stem. Yam plants have climbing stems with leaves and produce unisexual flowers. The flesh of yams can range in color from white to purple and varies in taste. While true yams are distinct from sweet potatoes, some varieties of sweet potatoes are commonly referred to as yams in the United States.12