Yam plants are found throughout the warm, humid tropics worldwide. They are climbing plants with very thin, long shoots and underground tubers. The tubers vary greatly depending on the species. They can be spherical, elongated, or branched.
However, the tubers of the wild yam on display at the Zurich Zoo protrude above the substrate and resemble a turtle shell in shape.
Number of related species
Wirtschaftliche Bedeutung