Dioscorea alata L.
- Family: Dioscoreaceae
- Vernacular names: Kaachil, Kaavuth, കാച്ചിൽ, കാവത്ത് (Malayalam), Asiatic yam, Greater Yam, White yam (English), Alukam, Raktaluka (Sanskrit), Khamalu (Hindi), Kappa-kavali, Siruvalli (Tamil)
- Distribution: India
- Description: Tuberous climbers. Bulbils globose, ovoid or obpyriform, occasionally with rootlets. Leaves opposite or rarely subopposite, winged. Flowers creamy-yellow, male spike on axillary branchlets and female spike solitary in axils. Capsule long, broadly obcordate.
- Habit: Climbers/Lianas
- Habitat: Cultivated, also naturalised
- Flowering & Fruiting: Throughout the year
- Parts used: Tubers
- Properties & Uses: Cooling, aphrodisiac, diuretic and anthelmintic. Tubers are used for the treatment of piles, diabetes, leprosy, fever, hemorrhoids and gonorrhea.
- Systems of Medicines: Ayurveda, Folk,
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