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Yam is the common name for members of the genus Dioscorea (family Dioscoreaceae). Some species are cultivated for consumption in Africa and Asia. The word "yam" is derived from Portuguese inhame or Spanish ñame, which are ultimately from the West African nyami, meaning "to eat". They are used in a similar fashion to potatoes, and are sometimes called a potato substitute, though in those areas where yams are grown, potatoes are the newer vegetable.
In the Philippines, yams (known as "ube") is eaten as a sweetened dessert (called "halaya"), and often with other fruits and milk as part of halo-halo .
Yams can grow 7 feet in length and weigh up to 150 pounds.
The sweeter varieties of sweet potato (Ipomoea) are often called "yams", causing much confusion. In the United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in, for example, these sweet potato "yams" can be purchased at any store while the true yams are rarely seen except in specialty (largely Asian) markets.
See also the United States Department of AgricultureDepartment of Agriculture also called the Agriculture Department or USDA is a Cabinet department of the United States Federal Government. Its purpose is to develop and execute policy on farming, agriculture, and food. It aims to meet the needs of farmers's Plant Profile for a complete list of 28 yam species.