Colors with Undefined Names

35. Halayá Úbe Color 419 - #663854

Dioscorea alata, known as purple yam, halayá ύbe and many other names, is a species of yam, a tuberous root vegetable, that is bright lavender in color. It is sometimes confused with taro and the Okinawa sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv. Ayamurasaki). With its origins in the Asian tropics, D. alata has been known to humans since ancient times.

Purple yam is used in a variety of desserts, as well as a flavor for ice cream, milk, Swiss rolls, tarts, cookies, cakes, and other pastries. In the Philippines, it is known as ube and is eaten as a sweetened jam called ύbe halayá, a popular ingredient in the iced dessert called halo-halo.

In English alone, aside from purple yam, other common names include greater yam, Guyana arrowroot, ten-months yam, water yam, white yam, winged yam, or simply yam. In other cultures and languages it is known variously as uhi in Hawaii, ύbe in the Philippines.