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Dioscorea sylvatica

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The large one in Copenhagen Botanical Garden.


Wild one from Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, South Africa.


This is what you see, and only few centimetres down:


Seedlings of D. s. var. paniculata by Enrico Santimaria.

Author:  Christian Friedrich Ecklon, 1908
Family:  DIOSCOREACEAE
Origin:  Eswatini, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  40-100 Centimetres
Height:  4 Meters
Flower:  Light Green
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  Ingwevu, Ufudu - intelezi, Ugebeleweni (zulu), Elephant´s Foot.
Synonyms:  Testudinaria sylvatica, Knuth, 1850.
Dioscorea brevipes, Burtt Davy.
Dioscorea hederifolia,
Griseb.
Dioscorea marlothii,
R.Knuth.
Dioscorea rehmannii,
Baker.
Dioscorea sylvatica
subsp. lydenbergensis, Blunden, Hardman & F.J.Hind.
Testudinaria glaucescens,
Hügel.
Testudinaria multiflora,
Marloth.
Testudinaria paniculata,
Dummer.
Testudinaria rehmannii,
G.D.Rowley.
Testudinaria sylvatica
var. brevipes, G.D.Rowley.
Testudinaria sylvatica
var. lydenbergensis, G.D.Rowley.
Testudinaria sylvatica
var. multiflora, G.D.Rowley.
Testudinaria sylvatica
var. paniculata, G.D.Rowley.
Testudinaria sylvatica
var. rehmannii, G.D.Rowley.

This member of the Dioscoreaceae family was given this name by Christian Friedrich Ecklon in 1908. It is found in Eswatini, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is growing in a well-drained soil with some water and some sun. The caudex grows quiet flat, with "balconies" 40 centimetres or more in diameter. The vines reach for five meters. The flowers are light green, and it can be reproduced by cuttings as well.

Dioscorea is named after Pedianos Dioscorides, a Greek physician if the 1st century A.D. The species name means 'growing in woods and forests'.


Strange looking caudex from
Göteborg Lustgårdar. It might be D. s. var. paniculata, Burkill.


Figured that out, when I got this photo from Enrico Santimaria.


Male flowers.


The sorry remains of the fruits.