Dioscorea hamiltonii

Botanical Description

Dioscorea hamiltonii is a herbaceous, perennial climbing plant growing from a vertical, cylindrical tuber. One to several stems are produced each year, the stems scrambling over the ground and twining into the surrounding vegetation for support. The stems twine in a clockwise direction[ 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 harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated in Vietnam for its edible tuber[ 283 Title Medicinal Plants in Vietnam Publication Author Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu Publisher World Health Organisation Year 1989 ISBN 92 9061 101 4 Description An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications. ].