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Dioscorea batatas

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Photo from
University of Connecticut.


A few dried air-bulbs. 

Author:  Joseph Decaisne, 1854
Family:  DIOSCOREACEAE
Origin:  China, Korea, Taiwan
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  60 Centimetres
Height:  6 Meters
Flower:  Green - White - Yellow
Propagate:  Seeds/Air-Bulbs
Names:  Cinnamon Vine/Yam, Air-Potato, Shan-Yam, Chinese Yam
Synonyms:  Dioscorea polystachya Turcz. 1837.
Dioscorea oppositifolia.
Dioscorea divaricata.

This member of the Dioscoreaceae family was described by Joseph Decaisne in 1854. Found originates from China, but have been spread around the world as a crop. The long caudex will grow well in a well-drained soil, given some water and lots of sun. It can get up to 60 cm in diameter, the vines can reach six meters. The flowers are white-yellow-greenish.

The leaves are close to D. mexicana, but the caudex are much longer and it get these "air-bulbs".

Dioscorea is named after Pedianos Dioscorides, a Greek physician if the 1st century A.D. The species name for the 'air-potatoes'.

 It can stand temperatures down to -18 C.


And more fresh from Southeasternflora.com.