Dioscoreaceae - Yam family

Twining herbs. Stems annual, often prickly below, arising from tubers or rhizomes, climbing over other vegetation. Flowers unisexual (in ours). Perianth segments in 2 series. Ovary inferior, rarely semi-inferior or superior, (1-)3-locular. Fruit a dehiscent, 3-winged or 3-angled capsule (in ours).

Worldwide: 8 genera and 880 species, tropical and warm areas with a few northern temperate.