dioscoreadioscorea
genusgenusTwining vines with distinctive heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves arranged in spirals along climbing stems. These remarkable plants produce underground tubers that can grow to impressive sizes and have been cultivated for thousands of years.
Etymology
The name honors the ancient Greek physician and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides, who wrote an influential early text on medicinal plants in the first century CE.
Interesting fact!
Some members of this genus can live for over a century, developing massive underground tubers that indigenous peoples consider sacred and pass down through generations.
All species of Dioscorea
dioscoreaPentaphylla
Five-finger yam, Star vine, Purple air potato.
dioscoreaMexicana
Mexican yam, Turtle shell vine, Living rock plant.
dioscoreaElephantipes
Elephant's foot yam, Turtle back plant, Hottentot bread.
dioscoreaSylvatica
Climbing elephant's foot, Forest yam, Wild yam vine.
dioscoreaBulbifera
Air potato vine, Air yam, Aerial potato.
dioscoreaDiscolor
Purple yam vine, Fantasy yam, Purple stem yam.
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