Scientific name Dioscorea bulbifera Rank Species | Genus Dioscorea Higher classification Dioscorea | |
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Similar Dioscorea, Dioscoreaceae, Dioscorea esculenta, Dioscorea cayennensis subsp rot, Dioscorea trifida | ||
Dioscorea bulbifera, the air potato, is a species of true yam in the yam family, Dioscoreaceae. It is native to Africa, southern Asia, India, Maldives, China, Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia and northern Australia. It is widely cultivated and has escaped to become naturalized in many regions (Latin America, the West Indies, the Southeastern United States, and various oceanic islands).
Contents
- Edible air potato dioscorea bulbifera sprouting ninja gardening episode 16
- Description
- Uses
- Toxicity
- Invasive species
- References
Edible air potato dioscorea bulbifera sprouting ninja gardening episode 16
Description
Dioscorea bulbifera is a perennial vine with broad leaves and two types of storage organs. The plant forms bulbils in the leaf axils of the twining stems, and tubers beneath the ground. These tubers are like small, oblong potatoes. Some varieties are edible and cultivated as a food crop, especially in West Africa. The tubers of edible varieties often have a bitter taste, which can be removed by boiling. They can then be prepared in the same way as other yams, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
The air potato is one of the most widely consumed yam species. It can grow up to 150 ft tall.
Air potato can grow extremely quickly, roughly 8 in per day, and eventually reach over 60 ft long. It typically climbs to the tops of trees and has a tendency to take over native plants. New plants develop from bulbils that form on the plant, and these bulbils serve as a means of dispersal. The aerial stems of air potato die back in winter, but resprouting occurs from bulbils and underground tubers.
The primary means of spread and reproduction are by the bulbils. The smallest bulbils make control of air potato difficult due to their ability to sprout at a very small stage. The vine produces small white flowers; however, these are rarely seen when it grows in Florida. The fruits are capsules.
Uses
Air potato has been used as a folk remedy to treat conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and dysentery, among other ailments.
Toxicity
Uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida, can be poisonous. These varieties contain the steroid diosgenin, which is a principal material used in the manufacture of a number of synthetic steroidal hormones, such as those used in hormonal contraception. There have been claims that even the wild forms are rendered edible after drying and boiling, leading to confusion over actual toxicity.
Invasive species
In some places, such as Florida, it is considered a noxious weed because of its quick-growing, large-leafed vine that spreads tenaciously and shades out any plants growing beneath it. The bulbils on the vines sprout and become new vines, twisting around each other to form a thick mat. If the plant is cut to the ground, the tubers can survive for extended periods and send up new shoots later.
The leaf beetle Lilioceris cheni has been studied and employed as an agent of biological pest control for the plant, with releases in 2012.