Dioscoreaceae · Dioscorea

Baichandi / Asiatic Bitter Yam

Dioscorea hispida

Also known as Intoxicating Yam

Climberoutdoor
Habit
Climber
Found in India
Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Karnataka & more
Flowering
June-January

Plant Details

Scientific name
Dioscorea hispida
Genus
Dioscorea
Habit
Climber
Habitat
Semi-Evergreen forests
Habitat type
Forest
Distribution
Tropics of Asia
Found in India
Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Kerala, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh
Flowering & fruiting
June-January
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Leaf shape
Trifoliate (three leaflets)recorded

Characters marked “recorded” are for Baichandi itself; the rest are typical of the Dioscoreaceae family.

Local Names

Nepali
भार्लाङ्ग Bhaarlaang, गिट्ठो Gittho
Tamil
Kavalakodi, Pei Perendai, Periperendai
Malayalam
Podava Kelengu, വെന്നിക്കിഴങ്ങ്
Marathi
Baichandi, Bhul Kand, Dukar Kand

About Baichandi

Asiatic Bitter Yam (Dioscorea hispida) is a climber in the Dioscoreaceae family. In India it has been recorded in Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Karnataka and 6 other states. It grows in semi-Evergreen forests. Flowering and fruiting run from June to January.

Illustration representing the Dioscoreaceae family
Botanical family

Dioscoreaceae

Yam Family

Baichandi belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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