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27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 1 of 11 Yams of Mangarrayi Country
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 1 of 11
Yams
of Mangarrayi Country
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 2 of 11
Yams of
Mangarrayi Country
Illustrations and images are from the image library
of DNRETAS NT Herbarium. All images are
copyright and must not be duplicated or used in
any manner without permission from the source.
For assistance with biological knowledge recording
and for advice on using this template contact:
Glenn Wightman
Parks and Wildlife, Department of Natural
Resources, Environment, Arts & Sport
[email protected], phone 8999 4513
This outline of yams has been developed to
promote Mangarrayi biological knowledge.
This booklet is based on the Mangarrayi
knowledge of Jessie Garalnganjak Roberts,
Sheila Yenybarrak Conway, Edna Burrbanja
Farrar, Eileen Daylight & Fay Banjanja
Roberts.
Linguistic support was provided by Eugenie
Collyer, Diwurruwurru-jaru.
This booklet has been developed by Glenn
Wightman and Taegan Calnan of the
Ethnobiology Project, Parks and Wildlife
(DNRETAS).
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 3 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
The large yams are eaten after extensive preparation. They grow in areas near rivers, creeks and
springs. The leaves and flowers grow in the wet season and the leaf is large. To prepare the yam
for eating it is sliced up or smashed into small pieces and cooked in hot coals, this is then placed in
a basket in running water for a whole day or overnight. After this soaking to remove the toxins it can
be eaten. In the past it was eaten a lot, but now it is not seen much as feral pigs eat the yams.
Yanburraburra Cheeky Yam
Amorphophallus paeniifolius
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 4 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
This plant has flat, round yams, they are very good to eat and can be eaten raw or lightly roasted.
The yams are produced at the end of the wet season and are best eaten in the late wet season or
early dry season.
The Mangarrayi name also means knee-cap; the yams are similar in shape to a knee-cap.
Bibib Bush Potato
Brachystelma glabriflorum
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 5 of 11
Ngarranyngarrayn Onion Lily
Crinum uniflorum
KNOWLEDGE
This small plant has white flowers and a tuber that looks like an onion, however, you cannot eat it
and it is considered to be poisonous.
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 6 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
The tuber (yam) is eaten but it requires preparation, otherwise it is ‘cheeky’ and cannot be eaten.
The tuber is cooked in coals then chipped into small pieces. These are then leached in running water for
one hour to two hours; the flesh may then be eaten. It tastes really good like commercial potato when it is
properly prepared.There is an important dreamtime story about the green katydid and this cheeky yam.
When the green katydid is singing he is calling up this yam.
Minyjawurr Cheeky Yam
Dioscorea bulbifera
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 7 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
The tuber (yam) is eaten raw, lightly roasted in hot coals or boiled in water. It is highly regarded for
its sweet potato-like taste and the tubers are often over 50cm long. In the past this yam was eaten
a lot and it was an important food resource. It is very healthy food and sometimes it is taken to
people in hospital for them to eat, this will improve their health.
Jamburl Long Yam
Dioscorea tranversa
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 8 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
The tuber (yam) is dug up and roasted on hot coals. It may then be eaten and is similar to sweet
potato in taste.
Dambarlma Yam
Ipomoea abrupta
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 9 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
This plant has a tuber (yam) but it is considered poisonous. It has no Mangarrayi name. Pigs are
known to eat the tuber.
No Mangarrayi name Cheeky Yam
Tacca leontopetaloides
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 10 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
The pale white yams are like small potatoes, they can be dug up fairly easily as they are quite
shallow in the soil. They are eaten after lightly roasting in hot coals and ashes.
They often occur in large numbers and are really good food. It grows on sandy banks and in red
soil country.
Garnduy Pencil Yam
Vigna lanceolata var. lanceolata
27-Jun-16 Yams of Mangarrayi Country Prepared by elders, Parks and Wildlife (DNRETAS) and Diwurruwurru-jaru AC. Contact Glenn Wightman 8999 4513 11 of 11
KNOWLEDGE
This climbing plant has a yam that is long and thin; it is quite fibrous and chewy but tastes nice.
No Mangarrayi name Bush Carrot
Vigna vexillata var. angustifolia
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