Dioscorea melanophyma Prain & Burkill

Tubers ovoid or pear-shaped; roots slender, fibrous. Stem twining to left, glabrous. Bulblets present, black at maturity, 5--7 mm in diam., smooth. Leaves alternate, palmately 3-or 5(or 7)-foliolate, simple distally on stem; leaflets ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate or narrowly elliptic; middle leaflet larger than lateral ones, 2.8--13 × 1--4 cm, glabrous or puberulent along veins, smooth, pinnately veined, margin entire or slightly undulate, apex acuminate. Male spike forming a panicle; axis puberulent. Male flowers: subsessile; bracts abaxially puberulent; perianth yellowish white, abaxially puberulent; stamens 3; staminodes 3. Female spikes solitary or paired. Capsule reflexed, ca. 1.5 cm, smooth, base and apex rounded; wings ca. 0.5 cm wide. Seeds inserted near apex of capsule; wing pointing toward capsule base, oblong. Fl. Aug--Oct, fr. Oct--Dec.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in Uttar Pradesh in India between 1200-3000 m altitude. In southern China it grows on the edges of forests between 1,300-2,500 m above sea level.

The tuberous roots are thoroughly washed, boiled and cooked as a vegetable. They are boiled or used in stir fries.