Dioscorea alata (HASTALUKA)

The term hastaluka is not observed in brhat samhitas.  Probably it is a later inclusion among the varieties of aluka. Owing to the shape of the tuber (winged yam) author identified it as Dioscorea alata. Another possible source forhastaluka appears to be Solanum ajanhuin (long tubered potato).

Botanical Description – Dioscorea alata, called “water yam”, “winged yam” and “purple yam”, was first cultivated in Southeast Asia. Although not grown in the same quantities as the African yams, it has the largest distribution world-wide of any cultivated yam, being grown in Asia, the Pacific islands, Africa, and the West Indies (Mignouna 2003). In the United States it has become an invasive species in some Southern states.