A detailed introduction to the origins and classification of Chinese yam

The scientific name of Chinese yam is Dioscorea polystachya, and it is a common vegetable. Its tubers are edible, and it is one of the earliest plants eaten by humans. Chinese yam is not only delicious but also rich in nutrients, with many benefits for the human body, including tonifying the spleen and nourishing the stomach, promoting body fluid production, and benefiting the lungs. Most importantly, Chinese yam has a long history of cultivation, and its origins and variety classifications are extremely rich. It has always been presented as tribute to successive dynasties. So what exactly are the origins and classification distribution of Chinese yam? Let's learn about it together.

1. Classification according to the shape of the underground tuber of Chinese yam 

It can be divided into 3 types: long Chinese yam, round Chinese yam, and flat Chinese yam:

① Long Chinese yam: The underground tuber of long Chinese yam appears as a long cylindrical shape, with a length of 30-100 cm. The aboveground stem is round, the leaves are relatively small, and the leaf tips are mostly triangular. It goes deep into the soil and is suitable for cultivation in deep sandy loam soil.  As the main cultivation type in China's main Chinese yam production areas, long Chinese yam has many local varieties and is distributed throughout the country. The main varieties include Huai Chinese yam, Taigu Chinese yam, Wutong Chinese yam, Fenyang Chinese yam, and others.

② Flat Chinese yam: The underground tuber of flat Chinese yam mostly appears in the shape of a sole, and some tubers are fan-shaped, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, and extremely irregular. The aboveground stems mostly have ridges, the leaf shapes are variable, and the leaf area is relatively large. Flat Chinese yam is mainly distributed in southern China, such as Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian.

③ Round Chinese yam: The underground tuber of round Chinese yam appears in irregular shapes such as nearly elliptical, lumpy, and short, thick cylindrical forms, about 15 cm long, with a cross-sectional diameter of about 10 cm. It is also called spherical Chinese yam. The aboveground stem is round or ridged, and the leaves are large with variable shapes. Round Chinese yam is mainly distributed in paddy fields and clayey, moist soil areas in southern China, such as Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Hainan, and Zhejiang.

2. Classification according to cultivation type of Chinese yam

It can be divided into 2 types: common Chinese yam and greater yam:

① Common Chinese yam: Common Chinese yam is one of the cultivated species with a relatively large planting area and has many varieties. The main varieties include Huai Chinese yam, Taigu Chinese yam, Wutong Chinese yam, Fenyang Chinese yam, and Jiaxiang slender-haired Chinese yam, among others.

② Greater yam: Greater yam is also called field yam. Round Chinese yam mostly belongs to this category. The tubers are large and mostly lumpy. The main varieties include Guangxi Cangwu large yam and Jiangxi Nancheng yam, among others.

3. Classification according to the length of the growth period of Chinese yam

It can be divided into 3 types: early-maturing Chinese yam, mid-maturing Chinese yam, and late-maturing Chinese yam:

① Early-maturing Chinese yam: The tubers of early-maturing Chinese yam mature early, and the growth period is short. From sowing to tuber harvest is 160-170 days, and it is generally harvested and marketed in August-September. The main varieties include Yancheng Rabbit Leg Chinese yam, Guangdong early white yam, and Hunan early-maturing large white yam, among others.

② Mid-maturing Chinese yam: The growth period of mid-maturing Chinese yam is moderate. From sowing to tuber harvest is 180-210 days, and it is generally harvested and marketed in September-October. The main varieties include Ma Chinese yam, Yunnan ox-tail Chinese yam, Peixian water Chinese yam, and Qunfeng Chinese yam, among others.

③ Late-maturing Chinese yam: The growth period of late-maturing Chinese yam is relatively long. From sowing to tuber harvest requires more than 220 days, and it is generally harvested and marketed after October. The main varieties include Henan Huai Chinese yam, Taigu Chinese yam, Jiangxi Qianjin yam, Hunan late-maturing large white yam, foot-board yam, and Guangxi large yam, among others.

The above is an introduction to the origins and classification of Chinese yam. Overall, Chinese yam is not expensive and is a relatively popular vegetable on the market, especially for friends who eat hot pot, who I believe have deep feelings about it. Although Chinese yam is good, in addition to choosing the right origin and variety, you should also pay attention to its dietary taboos.

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