| Author: | Carl
Linnaeus, 1753 |
| Family: |
DIOSCOREACEAE |
| Origin: |
Assam,
Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia,
Christmas Island, East Himalaya, India, Java, Lesser Sunda
Islands, Malaya, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi + Sumatera; Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam
(Belize, Comoros, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Gabon,
Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Mexico, Panama,
Venezuela) |
| Soil: |
Rich Drained |
| Water:
|
Medium - Maximum |
| Sun: |
Medium |
| Thickness: |
60
Centimetres |
| Height: |
8 Meters |
| Flower:
|
White -
Crème Coloured |
| Propagate: |
Seeds/Rhizomes/"Air
Potatoes" |
| Names:
|
Winged
Yam, Water Yam, Purple yam, Maha vel ala |
| Synonyms: |
Dioscorea atropurpurea William Roxburgh, 1832.
Dioscorea
colocasiifolia Pax.
Dioscorea globosa W.
Roxburgh, 1832.
Dioscorea purpurea W. Roxburgh, 1832.
Dioscorea rubella
W. Roxburgh, 1832.
Dioscorea sapinii De Wildemann.
Dioscorea sativa Munro, 1844.
Dioscorea eburina, Lour.
Dioscorea eburnea, Lour.
Dioscorea javanica, Queva
Dioscorea vulgaris, Miq.
Elephantodon eburnea, Salisb.
Polynome alata, Salisb. |
This member of the Dioscoreaceae
family originates from Asia, but has been brought around the
world, first by Arab traders, later by other traders, and remain a
popular crop. It was given this name by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It
will grow in a rich but drained soil with some to lots of water and
some sun. The clusters of rhizomes can grow large and each reach up
to 60 centimetres in some parts of the world. In other, they grow
more like potatoes, reaching six centimetres each. The vines can
reach ten meters, and the flowers are white to crème coloured. I
doubt the single rhizome will last for many years, or if they
appreciate to be exposed.
Dioscorea is named after
Pedianos Dioscorides, a Greek physician if the 1st century A.D. The
species means 'winged' for the fruits. |
