Ethnobotany of Dioscorea L. (Dioscoreaceae), a major food plant of the Sakai tribe at Banthad Range, Peninsular Thailand

Dioscorea is the main source of carbohydrate food of the Sakai tribe at Banthad Range, Peninsular Thailand. Nine subgroups of Sakai wander in this area, in which fifteen species of the genus have been found. Thirteen of these species are consumed by people in this tribe whereas two species are inedible. This study investigated the Sakai pyramid and living areas, the species diversity of Dioscorea and ethnobotany, as well as the nutritional compositions of the selected species.