Dioscorea asteriscus
Burkill
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Meise Botanic Garden
gbif· cc-by-nc-sa
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