Usivar / उसीवर / Five Leaf Yam / Cayratia japonica

Other Names

  • Local Name: Usivar / उसीवर
  • Common Name: Five Leaf Yam
  • Botanical Name: Cayratia japonica

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Climber
  • Occurrence: Deciduous Forest areas
  • Season of Availability: Spring and summer
  • Geography: Tropical and Subtropical Asia, Australia and the West Pacific
  • Method of Propagation: Seed and vegetative propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds and rhizome cuttings

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Flowers, Young Leaves and Fruits
  • Can be Eaten Raw: Yes

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes
  • Ripe: N/A
  • Both Raw & Ripe: N/A
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: N/A
  • As Food: Fruits, young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw. Flowers are also cooked into a vegetable
  • As Medicine: Decoction consumed to relieve rheumatoid athritis, diarrhoea.
  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Yes
  • Boiling Before Cooking: No
  • Pickling: N/A
  • Brining: N/A
  • Fermenting: N/A
  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A
  • Overall Method: Fruits, young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: The fruits are high in minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.
  • Medicinal Benefit: Reduces swelling, cooling, diuretic, and used as a detoxing agent

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Flowers are cooked as vegetable. Decoction consumed to relieve rheumatoid athritis, diarrhoea.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: N/A