Air Potato

 

Air Potato

Udala (Dioscorea bulbifera)

The yams are grown not on soil but on the vine, so it is called Udala, meaning not air but above the soil. The tubers of the Udala creeper too, are large in size and have a taste which is very similar to potatoes. Another interesting fact about the Udala creeper is that it produces smaller tuber-like rhizomes on its surface.      

It not as tasty as Rajala. 

There is also a second kind of Udala. 

This variety has white spots on its large, round leaves. The yams, too, have white spots on their peel. However, the yams of this variety of Udala are not eaten but only used in traditional medicine.