UBI GADONG

Dioscorea hispida dennst.(Ubi Gadong)

Dioscorea hispida dennst. is  toxic plant and the only wild plants that can survive in

any weather condition. It can live for many years and are very difficult to die. It is

classified as a wild plant life creeping and climbing, and can be extended to 20 m with a

thorny stem. Actually, this plant can be distinguished from others by its leaf shape.

This rhizomes has poisoned with almost leaves have triangular-shaped that are not attached

 to each other. The flowers are very rare, but if there is, it will grow under the leaves with

yellow color and sweet smell. 

Scientific name of “Ubi gadong” is Dioscorea hispida dennst.

Vernacular names:

1)English: Asiatic bitter yam and Intoxicating yam

2)Indonesia: Gadong, Sikapa and Ondo

3)Malaysia: Ubi arak, Gadongan and Gadong mabok

4)Philippines: Nami, Gayos and Karot

5)Myanmar:Kywe, Cambodia.

Origin and Geographic Distribution:

-D.hispida occurs naturally from India and Southern China, through South-East Asia to New

Guinea.

-This tuber is poison to eat and can be extracted to use as bait for animal or other purposes.

-The tuber is gathered from the wild in time of food scarcity and hardly any  production statistic.

MORPHOLOGY

-It is climbing herb plant

-Fibrous root system.

-Tuber renew annually from superficial line corm.

-Stem twinning to the left.

-Firm

-Diameter:> 9mm

-Prickly, drying bright yellowish,

-Bulb is absent.

-Leaves trifoliolate.

-Herbaceous to chartaceous.

Male inflorescence:

i.Spike-like

ii.On leafless branches

iii.2-3 compound

iv.Up 50cm long

v.With closely packed or spaced sessile flowers

vi.6 fertile stamens

 

Female inflorescence:

i.Solitary from upper leaf axils, penduluos, with flowers spaced

Fruit :

i.Large woody capsule, honey colored, 3-winged, facing upward (wing 40-60 mmx10-12

mm), margin sometimes freed in dehiscence.

ii.Seed winged.