Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Sphenostylis stenocarpa - African Yam Bean

Edible Portion: Seeds, Leaves, Tubers, Root, Pods, Vegetable

A vigorous climbing vine. It is a herb that grows 1.5-2 m high. The leaves have 3 leaflets. They are 14 cm long and 5 cm wide.
The flowers are pink, purple or greenish-white. They are 2.5 cm long. They are on stout stalks in the axils of leaves. The seed
pods are smooth. They are flat but have both edges raised. They are 25-30 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. The seeds vary in shape,
size and colour. They can be 1 cm long by 0.7 cm wide. They can be cream or brown. There are small narrow tubers under the
ground. They can be 5-7.5 cm long and weigh 50-150 g. The flesh is white and watery.