Dioscoreaceae FAMILY

Dioscorea polystachya

Edibility

5/5

Medicinal

5/5

Safety & Hazards

Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves[ 174 Title Atlas of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Kariyone. T. Publisher Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka Year 1973 ISBN Description A good Japanese herbal. ].

Botanical Description

Dioscorea polystachya is a perennial climbing plant growing from a large, vertical, cylindrical tuberous rootstock that can be up to 100cm long. One to several twining shoots up to 300cm long are produced, these shoots twine to the right[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is a commonly cultivated food crop, especially in eastern Asia. It also has a range of medicinal uses.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeTemperate E. Asia - the exact range is not clear but was likely to have been the Russian Far East, northern and eastern China, Korea

HabitatPrefers sunny slopes in the wild[ 254 Title The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Publication Author Chevallier. A. Publisher Dorling Kindersley. London Year 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148 Description An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world. ]. Forests, scrub forests, herb communities, mountain slopes, along rivers, roadsides, also commonly cultivated; at elevations from 100 - 2,500 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].