Dioscorea bulbifera L.

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Dioscorea bulbifera Linnaeus, Spec. Plant., 1U53, 1753.
Herbaceous, glabrous, high-climbing, twining vine. Leaves alternate, oval-ovate to
suborbicular, deeply and obtusely cordate, abruptly acuminate, up to 20 or more cm. long,
palmately 7-11-or more-veined, petioles commonly half to as long as the blade, twisted at
the base, green or reddish aerial tubers up to 5 or more cm. in diameter often present
in the axils. Flowers small, in long, slender, spike-like inflorescences in axillary fascicles.
Common in thickets throughout the island (9646, 9668, 9895, 9998, 10020,
10107). English name, bitter yam; native name, hoi. When properly prepared
and cooked the tubers are edible but are used only when better species are not
available. The natives recognize the following varieties:
Hoi kona: very bitter and eaten only in times of famine, after cleaning and soaking in
sea water.
Hoi tea, hoi tua, hoi niua, hoi niukini, and hoi vakili: claimed to be of better flavor
than hoi-kona.
04363684
CAL LrARDEN