Guinea yam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guinea yam |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dioscorea
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| Species: |
cayenensis
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| Synonyms | |
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The Guinea yam, also known as yellow yam or yellow Guinea yam, is a type of yam. Its scientific name is Dioscorea cayenensis. This plant is a very important crop grown and eaten widely in West Africa.
Scientists sometimes consider another yam, Dioscorea rotundata, to be a subspecies of the Guinea yam. Other times, they treat it as a completely separate species. It's thought that the Guinea yam might be a natural mix, called a triploid hybrid, between the farmed D. rotundata and a wild yam called D. burkilliana.
Contents
What is the Guinea Yam?
The Guinea yam is a starchy root vegetable, much like a potato, but it grows underground as a tuber. It's a staple food for millions of people, especially in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. People have been growing and eating this yam for a very long time, making it a key part of the local culture and diet.
How is the Guinea Yam Used?
People mostly eat the underground part of the yam plant, which is the tuber. It's very versatile and can be prepared in many ways:
- It can be boiled and mashed, similar to mashed potatoes.
- It can be fried to make chips or crisps.
- It's often used to make a dough-like food called "fufu" in West Africa, which is eaten with soups and stews.
- The yam is a good source of carbohydrates, giving people energy. It also contains vitamin C and some dietary fiber.
Growing the Guinea Yam
Growing Guinea yams takes a lot of effort. Farmers usually plant small pieces of yam tubers, called "setts," in mounds of soil. The yam vines then grow upwards, often needing stakes or poles to climb on. It takes several months for the tubers to grow large enough to be harvested. After harvest, yams can be stored for a long time, which is very helpful for food security.
Where Does the Guinea Yam Come From?
The Guinea yam is native to West Africa. This means it naturally grew there before people started cultivating it. Over many centuries, people in West Africa selected and grew the best yam plants, turning them into the important crop we know today. This process is called domestication.
See also
- In Spanish: Dioscorea cayennensis para niños
