Lundha / लुंडा / Lundha / Dioscorea pentaphylla Var. jacquemontii

Lundha / लुंडा / Lundha / Dioscorea pentaphylla Var. jacquemontii

Other Names

  • Local Name: Lundha / लुंडा
  • Common Name: Lundha
  • Botanical Name: Dioscorea pentaphylla Var. jacquemontii

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Climber
  • Occurrence: Hilly Area, Farm bunds, Forests
  • Season of Availability: July-September
  • Geography: India
  • Method of Propagation: Vegetative propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Stem cuttings

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Young Shoots & Tuber
  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: No
  • Ripe: No
  • Both Raw & Ripe: No
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant
  • As Food: Tuber may be cooked and sauteed into a sabj
  • As Medicine: Tubers for healing swellings, boils, rheumatism and as a tonic. Root powder taken by women to enhance milk during lactation. Leaves decoction drunk as contraceptive. Veterinary medicine. Root extract given for cough.
  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: No
  • Boiling Before Cooking: Yes
  • Pickling: N/A
  • Brining: N/A
  • Fermenting: N/A
  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A
  • Overall Method: Tuber may be cooked and sauteed into a sabji; also used for medicinal purposes.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Rich in carbohydrates.
  • Medicinal Benefit: Rhuematism, Swelling, Used as a tonic

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Tubers for healing swellings, boils, rheumatism and as a tonic. Root powder is taken by women to enhance milk during lactation. Leaves decoction drunk as contraceptive. Veterinary medicine. Root extract was given for cough.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Boil and peel tubers; cut into small pieces and fry in hot oil along with spices as is done with potatoes. Garnish the recipe with chopped coriander leaves and serve with chapatis.