Dioscorea praehensilis

Dioscorea praehensilis is a species of yam in the genus "Dioscorea" native to Africa. It is the wild progenitor of the West African domesticated crops "Dioscorea rotundata" and "Dioscorea cayennensis". "D". "praehensilis" is a liana with an edible tuber root found in African rainforests and seasonal tropical forests. The tuber roots reach their maximum starch reserves during the dry season. This species of wild yam renews their stems every year at the start of the rainy season.