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Herb knowledgeSiru valli
Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill · Dioscoreaceae
Siru valli kizhangu, suthni in Hindi, is the lesser yam, a spiny vine grown for clusters of small, sweet tubers that cook like potatoes. It is a winter crop in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Odisha, and in Bihar suthni is offered at the Chhath festival. It was domesticated in South-east Asia. Like all yams it must be cooked, since raw tubers irritate the mouth and skin.
- Botanical name
- Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill
- Family
- Dioscoreaceae
- Tamil
- Siru valli
- Hindi
- Suthni
- Parts used
- Cooked tuber
- Habit
- Spiny lesser yam with small, sweet, cooked tubers
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Siru valli
It is a twining vine with prickly stems, especially near the base.
The leaves are heart-shaped to round, soft and hairy.
Small clusters of potato-like tubers, each a few centimetres long, form underground with thin, brown skin.
The flesh is white and cooks soft and slightly sweet.
Greater yam has winged, square stems and one large tuber.
Traditional use of Siru valli
Kitchen
Boiled tubers are peeled and eaten with salt or chutney, or cooked into Kerala puzhukku with other tubers.
Kerala food practice
Festival
In Bihar suthni is among the seasonal produce offered to the sun at Chhath.
Bihari festival practice
Farming
Tubers saved from the harvest are replanted at the start of the rains.
Indian farm practice
Modern notes on Siru valli
The tubers are rich in starch and supply potassium and fibre.
Raw yams contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that cause itching; cooking breaks them down.
Lesser yam is less widely grown than greater yam but has a finer texture.
Siru valli safety
Always cook the tubers. Oil your hands or wear gloves when peeling raw yam to avoid itching.
Ecology and sourcing
It was domesticated in South-east Asia.
It rarely sets seed and is grown from tubers.
The vines die back in the dry season.
Related plants
Also in Dioscoreaceae
Questions about Siru valli
What is suthni?
The Hindi name for lesser yam.
Can Siru valli be eaten raw?
No. Always cook it.
Why does raw yam itch?
It contains oxalate crystals.
How is Siru valli different from greater yam?
It has small clustered tubers and prickly stems.
When is Siru valli in season?
In winter.
Sources
- Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q2674220 (Dioscorea esculenta)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.