Dioscorea alata
Greater Yam, Greater Yams
Other regional names: Guyana Arrowroot +3 more
- Guyana Arrowroot
- Water Yam
- Winged Yam
- Yams
Also known as: Dioscorea aculeata Wight +19 more
- Dioscorea aculeata Wight
- Dioscorea alata subsp. globosa (Roxb.) Prain
- Dioscorea alata subsp. purpurea (Roxb.) A.Pouchet
- Dioscorea alata subsp. tarri Prain & Burkill
- Dioscorea alata subsp. vera Prain & Burkill
- Dioscorea alata var. globosa (Roxb.) Prain
- Dioscorea alata var. purpurea (Roxb.) A.Pouchet
- Dioscorea alata var. tarri Prain & Burkill
- Dioscorea alata var. vera Prain & Burkill
- Dioscorea atropurpurea Roxb.
- Dioscorea colocasiifolia Pax
- Dioscorea eburina Lour.
- Dioscorea eburnea Lour.
- Dioscorea globosa Roxb.
- Dioscorea javanica Queva
- Dioscorea purpurea Roxb.
- Dioscorea rubella Roxb.
- Dioscorea sapinii De Wild.
- Dioscorea sapinii DeWild.
- Dioscorea vulgaris Miq.
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Dioscoreaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a climbing tuberous geophyte.
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Dioscorea alata (commonly known as Greater Yam) is a climbing plant within the Dioscoreaceae family. It naturally occurs in Tropical Asia. In its natural range, this species typically occurs in wet tropical conditions.
Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Climber / Vine
Plant Type
Bulb
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
ASIA-TROPICAL
Regions (WGSRPD)
Indian Subcontinent, Indo-China, Malesia, Papuasia
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, Christmas I., East Himalaya, India, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam
Introduced Range
An “Introduced” distribution indicates that the plant is recorded outside its native range in that region as a result of deliberate or accidental human introduction. Introduced records may include casual, naturalized or invasive populations, but do not include plants that are only cultivated or planted without self-sustaining populations.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Alabama, Andaman Is., Angola, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Caroline Is., Central African Republic, Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Florida, French Guiana, Gabon, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Kazan-retto, Leeward Is., Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mozambique, Nansei-shoto, Nicaragua, Niue, Northern Territory, Panama, Peru, Pitcairn Is., Puerto Rico, Queensland, Rwanda, Santa Cruz Is., Senegal, Seychelles, Society Is., Southwest Caribbean, Surinam, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Wallis-Futuna Is., Windward Is., Zambia, Zaïre