Dioscorea esculenta
Asiatic Yam, Chinese Yam
Other regional names: Lesser Yam
- Lesser Yam
Also known as: Dioscorea aculeata var. spinosa (Prain) Roxb. ex Prain & Burkill +13 more
- Dioscorea aculeata var. spinosa (Prain) Roxb. ex Prain & Burkill
- Dioscorea esculenta subsp. fasciculata (Roxb.) Prain & Burkill
- Dioscorea esculenta subsp. tiliifolia (Kunth) Fosberg & Sachet
- Dioscorea esculenta var. esculenta
- Dioscorea esculenta var. fasciculata (Roxb.) Prain & Burkill
- Dioscorea esculenta var. fasciculata (Roxb.) R.Knuth
- Dioscorea esculenta var. fulvidotomentosa R.Knuth
- Dioscorea esculenta var. spinosa (Prain) R.Knuth
- Dioscorea esculenta var. tiliaefolia (Kunth) Fosberg & Sachet
- Dioscorea esculenta var. tiliifolia (Kunth) Fosberg & Sachet
- Dioscorea fasciculata Roxb.
- Dioscorea fasciculata var. spinosa Prain
- Dioscorea papillaris Blanco
- Dioscorea sativa Willd. ex Kunth, 1850
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Dioscoreaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a climbing tuberous geophyte.
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Originating in Tropical Asia, Dioscorea esculenta (commonly known as Asiatic yam or Chinese yam) is a climbing plant belonging to the Dioscoreaceae family. Within its native range, this species is most commonly linked to seasonally dry 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, East Himalaya, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya
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)
Andaman Is., Burkina, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Cook Is., Cuba, Fiji, Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Leeward Is., Madagascar, Maldives, Marianas, Mexico Central, Nansei-shoto, Nicobar Is., Niue, Pitcairn Is., Puerto Rico, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Is., Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuamotu, Wallis-Futuna Is., Windward Is.