 |
|
| Author:
|
Carl
Linnaeus 1753 |
| Family: |
Dioscoreaceae |
| Habitat: |
Sri Lanka
(Belize, Comoros, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Gabon,
Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Mexico, Panama,
Venezuela) |
| Soil: |
Rich but
Drained |
| Water:
|
Medium-Maximum |
| Sun: |
Medium |
| Thickness: |
60
centimetres |
| Height: |
8 meters |
| Flower:
|
White-
Crème Coloured |
| Reproduction: |
Seeds/Rhizomes/"Air
Potatoes" |
| Pop names:
|
Winged
Yam, Water Yam |
| Synonyms: |
Dioscorea atropurpurea William Roxburgh 1832. Dioscorea
colocasiifolia Pax. Dioscorea globosa William
Roxburgh 1832.
Dioscorea purpurea William Roxburgh 1832. Dioscorea rubella
William Roxburgh 1832. Dioscorea sapinii De Wildemann.
Dioscorea sativa Munro 1844. |
|
|
|
This member of the Dioscoreaceae
family originates from Sri Lanka, but has been brought around the
world, first by Arab traders, later by other traders, and remain a
popular crop. It was given this name by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It
will grow in a rich but drained soil with some to lots of water and
some sun. The clusters of rhizomes can grow large and each reach up
to 60 centimetres in some parts of the world. In other, they grow
more like potatoes, reaching six centimetres each. The vines can
reach ten meters, and the flowers are white to crème coloured. I
doubt the single rhizome will last for many years, or if they
appreciate to be exposed.
Dioscorea is named after
Pedianos Dioscorides, a Greek physician if the 1st century A.D. |
|
