Just Dioscorea

Alani Davis alanidae@gmail.com
Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:25:45 PDT
***Dioscorea bulbifera<http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx/…>
* and ****** <http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx/…>*Dioscorea
alata <http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx/…>* can be quite
problem as a invasive here in Florida in kudzu like proportions as far as
covering vegetation and smothering trees with there growth. They can make it
north of here but I doubt out of zone 7. Both produce aerial tubers though
D. bulbifera is spherical and smooth up to at least as large as a softball
while D. alata fingerish like elogated aerial tubers with specialized
claw-like hook shaped roots that will catch well in hair or fur. ***Dioscorea
polystachya* is another name of which D. batatas is listed as a synonym
which is an invasive problem further north but also occurs in Florida.
D.bulbifera and **Dioscorea polystachya are both edible ONCE prepared
properly. I grow the native D. floridana and D. villosa for the great leaf
texture though though the seed pods of D. floridana are ornamental as well.
Neither of those species produce aerial tubers.


-- 
Alani


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