Dioscoreaceae FAMILY

Dioscorea pentaphylla

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

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

Buck yam is a perennial climbing plant producing annual stems from a perennial rootstock. These stems scramble over the ground, or twine into the surrounding vegetation[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The plant is widely cultivated in tropical areas of Asia for its edible root[ 300 Title Vegetables in the Tropics Publication Author Tindall. H. D. Publisher MacMillan, Oxford. Year 1983 ISBN 0-333-24268-8 Description An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants. ]. It is also harvested from the wild because its slender tubers render its cultivation more difficult[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSoutheastern Asia - Indian subcontinent, China, through southeast Asia to Australia and Pacific Isl.

HabitatScrub forests, forest margins; at elevations of 500 - 1,500 metres in southern China[ 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. ].