Are air potatoes safe to eat?

Are air potatoes safe to eat?

The edible air potato, or “winged yam,” does grow wild here and there in patches across Florida. Both the hanging “air potatoes” and the roots beneath the ground are edible. ... The edible type is called Dioscorea alata.

Are air potatoes poisonous to humans?

The air potato might be a type of wild yam, but that doesn't mean you can eat the tubers of the wild, uncultivated plant. They contain steroidal saponins, powerful constituents that are used to synthesize cortisone and human sex hormones in laboratories. Eaten raw or even cooked, the tubers could be poisonous.

How do you get rid of air potatoes?

If you have air potato vine on your property:

1. Remove vines and underground tubers by hand.
2. For larger infestations, cut vines at the base to keep them from smothering other vegetation. ...
3. Another option is to cut the vine just above the ground level and spray it with herbicide.

Where do air potatoes come from?

Air potato is widely distributed in Asia and tropical Africa, where it occurs in wild populations and is a minor agricultural crop. The center of origin of the genus Dioscorea is thought to be Asia, although a secondary center of yam species diversity exists in West Africa.

Is the air potato fruit poisonous to humans?

The fruits are capsules. Air potato has been used as a folk remedy to treat conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and dysentery, among other ailments. Uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida, can be poisonous.

Is it safe to eat air potatoes in Florida?

Air potatoes are a member of the yam family (Dioscoreaceae). In Florida you still don’t want to eat them. Both the underground tubers and aerial bulbils may contain a variety of toxic compounds.

How is the air potato an invasive species?

All attempts to manage the air potato – mechanical, chemical, or physically gathering the bulbils — were unsuccessful; they were either too labor intensive and costly or caused collateral damage to native and endangered species. According to Min Rayamajhi

How are air potatoes related to white potatoes?

Despite the name, they’re not related to white potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), which is in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Air potatoes are a member of the yam family (Dioscoreaceae). In Florida you still don’t want to eat them. Both the underground tubers and aerial bulbils may contain a variety of toxic compounds.