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Dioscorea asteriscus

Burkill

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Meise Botanic Garden

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GBIF

gbif· cc-by

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Description

A yam vine. The tuber are round. The stems are twining and 3 m long. The leaves are alternate and 14 cm long and broad. The leaf stalks are 8 cm long. There are bulbils or aerial tubers along the vin. These are an irregular and a flattened round shape. They are 5 cm across and deep purple. The seeds have wings at the base end.

Edible Uses

The roots and tubers are edible.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

References (2)

  • Nzigidahera, B., 2006, Assessment of Socio-cultural, Economic Characteristics and Livelihood of Riparian Population of the Kibira National Park. (Rukoma-Mutana locality). UNDP p 30 (As astericum)
  • White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J. D., 2001, Evergreen Forest Flora of Malawi. Kew Botanical Gardens. p 96

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