| Dioscorea bulbifera | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Dioscoreales |
| Family: | Dioscoreaceae |
| Genus: | Dioscorea |
| Species: | D. bulbifera |
| Binomial name | |
| Dioscorea bulbifera | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Dioscorea bulbifera (commonly known as theair potato,air yam,bitter yam,cheeky yam,potato yam,[2]aerial yam,[3] andparsnip yam)[4] is a species of trueyam in the yam family,Dioscoreaceae. It is native to Africa, Asia and northern Australia. It is widely cultivated and has become naturalized in many regions.
Dioscorea bulbifera is aperennial vine with broad, alternate leaves, and two types ofstorage organs. The plant formsbulbils in the leaf axils of the twining stems, andtubers beneath the ground. These tubers are like small, oblong potatoes.
Air potato can grow extremely quickly, roughly 20 centimetres (8 in) per day, and eventually reach over 18 metres (60 ft) long.[5] It typically climbs to the tops of trees and has a tendency to take overnative plants. New plants develop from bulbils that form on the plant, and these bulbils serve as a means ofdispersal. The aerialstems of air potato die back in winter, butresprouting occurs from bulbils and underground tubers.
The primary means of spread andreproduction 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 places such as Florida. The fruits are capsules.[6]
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It is native to Africa, Asia and northern Australia.[1] It is widely cultivated and has become naturalized in many regions (Latin America, the West Indies, the southeastern United States, and various oceanic islands).[1]
It has been observed growing in habitats such as along forest edges, roadsides, as well as other environments with mesic, loamy sand.[7]
In some places, such as Florida, it is considered anoxious 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 newshoots later.[8]
Theleaf beetleLilioceris cheni has been studied and employed as an agent ofbiological pest control for the plant, with releases in 2012.[9][10]
Uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida, can be poisonous. These varieties contain thesteroiddiosgenin, which is a principal material used in the manufacture of a number ofsyntheticsteroidalhormones, such as those used inhormonal contraception.[2] There have been claims[11] that even the wild forms are rendered edible after drying and boiling, leading to confusion over actualtoxicity.
Some varieties produce edible tubers and arecultivated as a foodcrop, especially inWest 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, andsweet potatoes.
Air potato has been used as afolk remedy to treatconjunctivitis,diarrhoea, anddysentery, among other ailments.[12]
D. bulbifera is highly important to theTiwi people of Australia, who use it in an important ceremony calledkulama. During the ceremony, the tubers are ritually cooked, and eaten on the third day.[13]
It is known as theup-yam inNigerian Pidgin English, since the plant is cultivated more for its bulbils than for its tubers.[14]
