Dioscoreaceae FAMILY

Dioscorea deltoidea

Edibility

2/5

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

Dioscorea deltoidea is a perennial climbing plant growing from a large, spreading, horizontal rhizome around 12 - 15mm thick; it produces vigorous annual stems that twine to the left. The stems scramble over the ground and twine into nearby vegetation[ 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. , 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The plant is sometimes used locally as a medicine, hair wash and food, but it is mainly of importance as a source of the medically active compound diosgenin. It is commonly harvested from the wild for this compound and also sometimes cultivated in countries such as Vietnam and Russia.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - China, northeast India, Nepal,Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam.

HabitatForests and humus-rich soils; at elevations from 1,700 - 2,800 metres in Kashmir[ 145 Title Forest Flora of Srinagar. Publication Author Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Publisher Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Year 1976 ISBN - Description A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses. ]. Broad-leaved forests and scrub forests; at elevations from 2,000 - 3,100 metres in western 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. ].