rasavalli

English

Dioscorea alata tuber

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil இராசவள்ளி (irācavaḷḷi), ultimately from Sanskrit रस (rasa, “juice, essence”) + native Tamil வள்ளி (vaḷḷi, “climber, creeper”).

Noun

rasavalli (plural rasavallis)

1. A tropical plant of the species Dioscorea alata, cultivated for its edible root.
   • 1980, A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon, Volume 9, Amerind Publishing Company, page 53:

     Vern. Potato Yam, Aerial Yam (E), Panu kondol, Udala, Bakamunawel (wild); Mothaka valli and Rasa valli (cultivars).

   • 2017, Emily Dobbs, Weligama: Recipes from Sri Lanka, Orion:

     Purple yams; rasavalli; moong bean; okra; lotus root; drumstick; bottle/bitter/ridge/snake gourd; capsicam; banana blossom; native Gotu Kola; Manioc jackfruit; 'white' sweet potato; ash pumpkin; taro; white radish; potato-like breadfruit; water spinach (known as kangknug) and long thin aubergine.

Synonyms

• purple yam
• ube
• water yam
• winged yam

Further reading

• Dioscorea alata on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Dioscorea alata on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Category:Dioscorea alata on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons