Dioscorea dumetorum, also known as the bitter yam, cluster yam, trifoliate yam, or three-leaved yam, is a species of flowering plant in the yam family, Dioscorea. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa and especially common in the tropical regions of West Africa This Dioscorea dumetorum is a famine food in West Africa. It is frequently planted as a backup harvest in cases of crop failure. Please note: this variety of D. dumetorum is non toxic and common in West Africa. In countries such as Benin and Nigeria these varieties are farmed in subsistence agriculture. In Ghana, this non-toxic variety of D. dumetorum is considered an underutilized food source as the tuber is high in starch and nutrients. Nonetheless, this bitter yam species remains economically and culturally significant in the region.