Dioscorea — 48 species
Botanical species in the genus Dioscorea recorded in the PlantPeers database.
Dioscorea abyssinica
Dioscorea abyssinica
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
This species is believed to be one of the parents of Dioscorea cayenensis.
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Dioscorea alata
Dioscorea alata
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Plants grow best in lowland tropical areas up to an elevation of 1,000 metres with a temperature around 26 - 34°c; a well-defined dry season of 4 - 5 months; and a total rainfall of 1,000 - 1,500mm evenly distributed throughout the remainder of the year. Plants are not frost tolerant. Amongst the many cultivars of this species, there are forms that are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions.
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Dioscorea bulbifera
Dioscorea bulbifera
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the moist, lowland tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 12 - 38°c. It can be killed by temperatures of 9°c or lower.
Full cultivation guide →Dioscorea cayenensis
Dioscorea cayenensis
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the moist, lowland tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 32°c, but can tolerate 12 - 40°c. Plants can be killed at temperatures of 9°c.
Full cultivation guide →Dioscorea cayennensis rotundata
Dioscorea cayennensis rotundata
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the moist tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 32°c, but can tolerate 15 - 38°c. It can be killed by temperatures of 9°c or lower.
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Dioscorea cochleariapiculata
Dioscorea cochleariapiculata
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Dioscorea composita
Dioscorea composita
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the moist tropics and subtropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 38°c. It can be killed by temperatures of 9°c or lower.
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Dioscorea deltoidea
Dioscorea deltoidea
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Easily grown in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade. Prefers a rich light soil. Plants produce tubercles (small tubers that are formed in the leaf axils of the stems), and can be propagated by this means.
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Dioscorea dumetorum
Dioscorea dumetorum
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 32°c, but can tolerate 15 - 40°c. It can be killed by temperatures of 9°c or lower.
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Dioscorea esculenta
Dioscorea esculenta
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the drier to wet tropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations up to 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 28 - 32°c, but can tolerate 17 - 45°c. It can be killed by temperatures of 9°c or lower.
Full cultivation guide →Dioscorea floribunda
Dioscorea floribunda
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the dry to moist tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 38°c. It can be killed by temperatures of 9°c or lower.
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Dioscorea hamiltonii
Dioscorea hamiltonii
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
The plant produces small tubers (tubercles) in the leaf axis. These can be used for propagation.
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Dioscorea japonica
Dioscorea japonica
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Easily grown in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade. Prefers a rich light soil. Plants produce tubercles (small tubers that are formed in the leaf axils of the stems), and can be propagated by this means.
Full cultivation guide →Dioscorea kamoonensis
Dioscorea kamoonensis
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It is unlikely to succeed in any but the mildest areas. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
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Dioscorea nummularia
Dioscorea nummularia
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Plants grow best in lowland tropical areas with a temperature around 26 - 34°c; a well-defined dry season of 2 - 5 months; and a total rainfall of 1,300 - 1,700mm evenly distributed throughout the remainder of the year. For best yields, this species requires a deep, well-drained, sandy loam that is not liable to water-logging. Daylengths of more than 12 hours are preferred during the early growing season since this encourages vegetative growth; daylengths of less than 12 hours towards the end of the growing season will encourage tuber formation and development.
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Dioscorea pentaphylla
Dioscorea pentaphylla
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Plants grow best in lowland tropical areas with a temperature around 26 - 34°c; a well-defined dry season of 2 - 5 months; and a total rainfall of 1,300 - 1,700mm evenly distributed throughout the remainder of the year. For best yields, this species requires a deep, well-drained, sandy loam that is not liable to water-logging. Daylengths of more than 12 hours are preferred during the early growing season since this encourages vegetative growth; daylengths of less than 12 hours towards the end of the growing season will encourage tuber formation and development.
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Dioscorea polygonoides
Dioscorea polygonoides
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the moist tropical lowlands. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.
Full cultivation guide →Dioscorea polystachya
Dioscorea polystachya
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Dioscorea polystachya is a very cold-hardy plant and can tolerate winter temperatures falling to at least -18°c. An easily grown plant, succeeding in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade, though it is best in full sun. This species of yam is much cultivated in China for its edible root which can be up to 1 metre long.
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Dioscorea praehensilis
Dioscorea praehensilis
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of moderate elevations in the tropics. It grows in Tanzania in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,400 - 2,400mm. Thrives in humus-rich soils.
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Dioscorea quartiniana
Dioscorea quartiniana
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of low to moderate elevations in the moist tropics. In Tanzania it grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 800 - 1,900mm. Often found in the deep shade of other vegetation.
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Dioscorea sansibarensis
Dioscorea sansibarensis
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Some selection to reduce toxicity has been practised, to the extent at least that in some races toxicity is confined to the upper part of the tuber. The leaves contain glands filled with a fluid holding nitrifying bacteria. Bulbils are produced at the leaf-axils, dark purplish brown and usually larger than those of D. bulbifera.
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Dioscorea tokoro
Dioscorea tokoro
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Easily grown in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade. Prefers a rich light soil. Plants produce tubercles (small tubers that are formed in the leaf axils of the stems), and can be propagated by this means.
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Dioscorea transversa
Dioscorea transversa
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of tropical and subtropical areas. Succeeds in full sun, but is also tolerant of deep shade. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
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Dioscorea trifida
Dioscorea trifida
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
A plant of the moist tropics and subtropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 26°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c. It can be killed by temperatures of 7°c or lower.
Full cultivation guide →Dioscorea villosa
Dioscorea villosa
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
Dioscorea villosa lis a moderately cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to at least -15°c. An easily grown plant, succeeding in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade. Prefers a rich light soil.
Full cultivation guide →Dioscorea zingiberensis
Dioscorea zingiberensis
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Cultivation
The plant is usually dioecious, though monoecious forms are known. Both male and female forms of dioecious plants will need to be grown if seed is required.
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