Dioscorea pentaphylla
| Dioscorea pentaphylla | |
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| Species: | D. pentaphylla
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| Binomial name | |
| Dioscorea pentaphylla | |
Dioscorea pentaphylla is a species of flowering plant in the yam family known by the common name fiveleaf yam. It is native to tropical Asia or eastern Polynesia, and it is present elsewhere as an introduced species.[1]
This species is a prickly vine that twines counterclockwise around objects and other plants. It may reach 10 meters in length. The alternately arranged leaves are compound, divided into 3 to 5 leaflets each up to 10 centimeters long. The plant produces horseshoe-shaped bulbils about a centimeter long. New plants can sprout from the bulbils. Flowers are borne in spikes. The vine grows from a tuber. Specimens may be 3 pounds in weight and may be located over a meter underground.[1]
The tubers of the vine can be cooked and eaten.[2]
References
- ^ a b Gucker, Corey L. 2009. Dioscorea spp. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
- ^ Dioscorea pentaphylla. University of Michigan Ethnobotany.