Twenty-three yam accessions cultivated in Dominica were grown at the Botanic Gardens and at La Plaine Agricultural Station to assess their potential for further development. Using the descriptors for yam of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, selected data on species, habit, stem and leaf characteristics, underground tubers and disease susceptibility were recorded. Amongst the 23 accessions were three of D. trifida, two of D.rotundata, one each of D. cayenensis, D. esculenta and D. bulbifera, and 15 of D. alata. Anthracnose disease was observed on some of the D. alata accessions. On the basis of t.his preliminary characterization the D. alata accessions "White Yam" and "Kaplaou" have been included <\s local checks in on-farm trials to evaluate imported selections for tolerance to anthracnose.