OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Dioscoreales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Dioscorea bulbifera   FAMILY Dioscoreaceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Dioscorea bulbifera   FAMILY Dioscoreaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America

Dioscorea bulbifera

 

COMMON NAME:
Air Yam, Air Potato


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Dioscorea bulbifera, Air Yam, Air Potato

Fred Nation, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Bugwood.org -    bug_9005054

July        

image of Dioscorea bulbifera, Air Yam, Air Potato

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org    bug_9005052

December        

Aerial tubers to 5" (12cm) long, spherical to ovoid, smooth with dimples, per A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010).

image of Dioscorea bulbifera, Air Yam, Air Potato

USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org    bug_1148132

Month Unknown        

image of Dioscorea bulbifera, Air Yam, Air Potato

USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org    bug_1148133

Month Unknown        

Leaf blade broadly ovate-cordate, glabrous, entire, apex long-acuminate, per Flora of North America.

image of Dioscorea bulbifera, Air Yam, Air Potato

Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org    bug_5344015

Month Unknown        

image of Dioscorea bulbifera, Air Yam, Air Potato

Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org    bug_5344015b

Month Unknown        

Flowers rarely, with fragrant spikes to 4" long hanging from leaf axils, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Dioscorea bulbifera   FAMILY Dioscoreaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Dioscorea bulbifera   FAMILY Dioscoreaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Dioscorea bulbifera

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

474

Herbaceous vine
Perennial
Dioecious

Habitat: Disturbed forests, thickets, and banks, per Weakley's Flora

Non-native: Africa & Asia

Rare or waif(s)

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.


INVASIVE

This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:

 

LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate

FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Greenish-white
6 tepals
Unisexual

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Capsule

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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