Uhi
Uhi – Dioscorea alata
It is characterized by its quadrangular and winged green stem, the leaves are heart-shaped and each plant forms two or three mass-shaped tubers of white, reddish or violet color.
Importance
The tuber was cultivated and highly appreciated in ancient times as food. According to some scientific findings, the uhi or yam at some times had a similar importance to that of the kumara or sweet potato.
Propagation
It reproduces by rhizomes, but due to the limited amount of material available, only a few specimens are propagated each year.
Ecology
Very rare in the natural environment, only one sector is known in the Rano Kau crater. It is observed in few gardens and private plots. Its cultivation in a nursery is recommended for conservation and research of the existing varieties in Rapa Nui.
Conservation
Its conservation status is VULNERABLE, in part because it stopped being cultivated en masse by the population.
Distribution
The uhi, known elsewhere as yam, has genera that are widely distributed and cultivated in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions around the world.
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