Derivation of specific name
provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
praehensilis : prehensile
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- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
- bibliographic citation
- Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=115420
- author
- Mark Hyde
- author
- Bart Wursten
- author
- Petra Ballings
Description
provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Herbaceous twining vine reaching the tree canopy; main stem with catophylls, and scattered prickles, twining to right. Tuber up to 60 cm. long, descending vertically into the soil, often protected by spiny branches, white when young, turning brown. Leaves and stems without hairs.
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
- bibliographic citation
- Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=115420
- author
- Mark Hyde
- author
- Bart Wursten
- author
- Petra Ballings
Worldwide distribution
provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Widespread in West, East and Central Africa, reaching eastern Zimbabwe.
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
- bibliographic citation
- Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=115420
- author
- Mark Hyde
- author
- Bart Wursten
- author
- Petra Ballings
Dioscorea praehensilis: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Dioscorea praehensilis is a species of yam in the genus Dioscorea native to Africa. It is the wild progenitor of the West African domesticated crops Dioscorea rotundata and Dioscorea cayennensis. It is a liana with an edible tuber root found in African rainforests and seasonal tropical forests. The roots reach their maximum starch reserves during the dry season. The species renews its stems every year at the start of the rainy season.
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- cc-by-sa-3.0
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
