Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) Pax

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Maonza, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Lake Chivero Recreational Park

Photo: Petra Ballings
Gardiner, Arcturus

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Dioscorea triphylla L. var. dumetorum (Kunth) R. Knuth Helmia dumetorum Kunth
Common names:	Wild yam (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Robust climber with annual stems up to 10 m long, growing from a tuber. Stems velvety, covered with short prickles. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets large, up to 12 cm long, bright green and slightly hairy above, paler and densely velvety below; lateral leaflets distinctly asymmetric with long, abruptly acuminate tips. Flowers in branched inflorescences, unisexual. Male flowers green; female flowers white. Fruit c. 40 × 25 mm, slightly velvety, winged near the base.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In woodland, often persisting in cleared areas.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Oct - Jan
Worldwide distribution:	Senegal to Ethiopia and south to Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,C,E,S
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 22 January 2008
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 125. Mapaura, A & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 90. Milne-Redhead, E. (1975). Dioscoreaceae FTEA Pages 21 - 22. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 113. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 59. (Includes a picture). Wilkin, P. (2009). Dioscoreaceae FZ 12(2) Pages 123 - 125. (Includes a picture).

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Other sources of information about Dioscorea dumetorum:

Flora of Mozambique: Dioscorea dumetorum
African Plant Database: Dioscorea dumetorum
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Dioscorea dumetorum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dioscorea dumetorum
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Dioscorea dumetorum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Dioscorea dumetorum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Dioscorea dumetorum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dioscorea dumetorum
JSTOR Plant Science: Dioscorea dumetorum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Dioscorea dumetorum
Kew Monocotyledon checklist: Dioscorea dumetorum
Tropicos: Dioscorea dumetorum
West African Plants database: Dioscorea dumetorum