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Dioscorea mexicana

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Covering a three meter high window at my lab.


The strange back-ward-growing of  the leafs.
Might be good at climbing.


My plant is male, and this is it's flowers.
The female flowers are real close to those of Dioscorea elephantipes.


The roots are always soaked in water, when the plant s in growth - and it loves it!


Cluster of male flowers.


Male flower.

Author:  Michael J.F: Scheidweiler, 1837
Family:  DIOSCOREACEAE
Origin:  Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Medium - Maximum
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  50 Centimetres
Height:  6 Meters
Flower:  Greenish / Dark Purple
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  Colic Root. Chinese Yam
Synonyms:  Dioscorea macrostachya Benth. 1841.
Dioscorea deppei
Schiede ex Schltdl. 1843.
Dioscorea macrophylla
Schltdl. 1843.
Dioscorea tuerckheimii
R. Knuth, 1917.
Dioscorea deamii
Matuda, 1953.
Dioscorea macrostachya
var. sessiliflora Uline, 1896 = Dioscorea mexicana var. sessiliflora (Uline) Matuda, 1953.

This member of the Dioscoreaceae family was described by Michael Joseph François Scheidweiler in1837. It is from Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. It is preferring a well-drained soil, some to lots of water and moderate sun. The caudex forms out of the ground, and gets 50 cm in diameter. The few vines reaches six meters. It seems like the leaves grows back-wards on the stem. Both male and female flowers are greenish and dark purple. It's possible to make cuttings.

The caudex must be kept in shade. It is a dioecious species; either male or female plant.

Dioscorea is named after Pedianos Dioscorides, a Greek physician if the 1st century A.D. The species name indicates its origin from Mexico.

This is kind of a winter grower, but will do fine a summer as well.


In 2008, the old stem did not die, it just got a new stem next to it. Later, the old stem got new side branches first, then the new. In autumn; a new main stem. Ended up covering the window entirely! Consuming half a litre of water every day, putting on some good growth to the caudex:


The big leaf, size as a hand.


Male flowers.


Clusters of male flowers.


Cluster of male flowers.