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Florida yam
Scientific Name: Dioscorea floridana
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Vine, Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Dioscorea Species: A Botanical Overview
This document explores various species within the genus Dioscorea, commonly known as yams, and their presence, particularly in Florida. Note that sweet potatoes, while sometimes marketed as "yams," are botanically distinct from true yams (Dioscorea spp.).
Considerations for Pets
- Some Dioscorea species are vines and can grow quickly.
Considerations for Children
- Some Dioscorea species are vines and can grow quickly.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Family: Dioscoreaceae (Yam family)
- Dioscorea alata: Winged Yam, White Yam
- Dioscorea batatas: Chinese Yam (formerly)
- Dioscorea bulbifera: Air Potato, Aerial Yam, Potato Yam
- Dioscorea floridana: Florida Yam
- Dioscorea oppositifolia: Chinese Yam (synonym of D. batatas)
Distribution and Habitat
- Several Dioscorea species are found in Florida, with some being native and others introduced.
- Dioscorea floridana is native to Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, growing in wet and sandy places at low elevations.
- Various species of wild yam grow throughout North and Central America and Asia.
Ecological Role
- Several Dioscorea species, such as D. alata (Winged Yam) and D. bulbifera (Air Potato), are considered invasive in Florida.
- Winged yam can form dense masses of vines that cover and kill native plants.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Winged yam (Dioscorea alata) is a deciduous vine that can reach a length of about thirty feet.
- It can be grown on a trellis, fence, or left to grow high into trees.
- Chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas) is usually grown for its edible root.