Discover Nature at JCU Plants Plants by scientific name A-F Dioscorea bulbifera

Dioscorea bulbifera

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(Aerial Yam)

FAMILY

Dioscoreaceae

Species

Dioscorea bulbifera

Common name

Aerial Yam

Flower colour; life form

Greenish; vine

Campus

Cairns, Townsville

Description

This vine can be found climbing over vegetation in creeks on both campuses. The stems arise from a thick tuberous rhizome, aerial tubers are also present. The flowers are inconspicuous, male flowers have 6 stamens but females have staminodes present. The ovary is inferior with 3 locules. The fruit is a winged capsule twice as long as wide, dehiscence is along the margins of the wings.

Additional images

whole vine

dry pods