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Dioscorea nipponica

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The rhizomes. Photo from
DaXingAnLing.


Male flowers.

Author: Tomitarô Makino, 1891
Family:  DIOSCOREACEAE
Origin:  China, Japan, Korea, Russia
Soil:  Rich
Water:  Medium - Maximum
Sun:  Minimum - Medium
Thickness:  5 Centimetres
Height:  5 Meters
Flower:  Greenish
Propagate:  Seeds/Rhizomes
Names:  -
Synonyms:  Dioscorea polystachya, Turcz. 1837.
Dioscorea acerifolia, Uline ex Prain & Burkill.
Dioscorea giraldii, R.Knuth
Dioscorea nipponica subsp. rosthornii,  C.T.Ting.

This member of the Dioscoreaceae family was given this name by Tomitarô Makino in 1891. It is found in China, Japan, Korea and Russia, growing in a rich soil with some to lots of water and little to some sun. The rhizomes can grow up to five centimetres in diameter and 50 centimetres long, The vines can reach five or even ten meters. Besides from being eaten, the rhizomes are used to extract steroids. 

Dioscorea is named after Pedianos Dioscorides, a Greek physician if the 1st century A.D. The species name after Japan.

 I do not know, if they can have their rhizomes exposed, or how old each rhizome will grow.