Dioscorea baya De Wild.

Tuber probably replaced annually, shape not recorded, protected by thorny roots.. Stems with prickles below, up to 27 m. high.. Leaves opposite or alternate, glabrous; petiole up to 6 cm. long; blade ovate or elliptic, rounded at the base, broadly and shortly acuminate, 3–5-nerved with the 2 primary nerves not running near the margin, up to 6(–9) cm. long and 4.5(–6) cm. broad.. Aerial tubers not observed.. Inflorescences glabrous.. Male spicate up to 4 cm. long with the flowers usually densely arranged and early caducous, arising up to 7 in the axils of leaves or more rarely at leafless node on terminal or lateral branches up to 15 cm. long; perianth subglobose, scarious, ± 1 mm. in diameter.. Female 1 per leaf-axil, up to 17 cm. long; perianth semi-globose, ± 1.5 mm. in diameter; tepals coriaceous. Ovary glabrous.. Capsule as 6, D. odoratissima, up to 3.8 cm. in diameter.. Seeds winged all round.

A tropical plant. In Congo it grows at about 500 m altitude. It grows in open areas in forest. It can grow in swampy areas.

The tubers are cooked and eaten as a starchy staple.