Mvjceng: refined layout additionally to improve readability

2026-02-21T18:56:41Z

refined layout additionally to improve readability

>Slovenichibo: Set {{DEFAULTSORT}} to Dioscorea bulbifera using Hot Default Sort

2021-07-06T18:50:44Z

Set {{DEFAULTSORT}} to Dioscorea bulbifera using Hot Default Sort

New page

{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the yam family Dioscoreaceae}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Air potato
|image = Dioscorea bulbifera at Kadavoor.jpg
|genus = Dioscorea
|species = bulbifera
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]<ref name=WCSP>{{WCSP | 239891 | accessdate = 17 March 2017 }}</ref>
|synonyms =
*''Helmia bulbifera'' (L.) Kunth
*''Polynome bulbifera'' (L.) Salisb.
*''Dioscorea tamifolia'' Salisb.
*''Dioscorea crispata'' Roxb.
*''Dioscorea heterophylla'' Roxb.
*''Dioscorea pulchella'' Roxb.
*''Dioscorea tenuiflora'' Schltdl.
*''Dioscorea latifolia'' Benth.
*''Dioscorea hoffa'' Cordem.
*''Dioscorea hofika'' Jum. & H.Perrier
*''Dioscorea anthropophagorum'' A.Chev.
*''Dioscorea longipetiolata'' Baudon
*''Dioscorea rogersii'' Prain & Burkill
*''Dioscorea korrorensis'' R.Knuth
*''Dioscorea perrieri'' R.Knuth
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=WCSP/>
}}

'''''Dioscorea bulbifera''''' (commonly known as the '''air potato''', '''air yam''', '''aerial yam''', '''bitter yam''', '''cheeky yam''', '''potato yam'''<ref name=NTBG/> and '''parsnip yam'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2894865|title=Dioscorea bulbifera var. elongata (F.M.Bailey) Prain & Burkill: Parsnip Yam|website=Atlas of Living Australia|access-date=6 January 2020}}</ref>) is a species of true [[Yam (vegetable)|yam]] in the yam [[family (biology)|family]], [[Dioscoreaceae]]. It is native to Africa, Asia and northern Australia.<ref name=WCSP/> It is widely cultivated and has become naturalized in many regions ([[Latin America]], the [[West Indies]], the Southeastern [[United States]], and various oceanic islands).<ref name=WCSP/>

It is also known as the '''up-yam''' in [[Nigerian Pidgin English]], since the plant is cultivated more for its [[bulbil]]s than for its [[tuber]]s.<ref name="AfricanPast">{{Cite book|title=Archaeology, language, and the African past|last=Blench|first=Roger|publisher=Altamira Press|year=2006|isbn=9780759104655}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Leiden University Library - Seikei Zusetsu vol. 22, page 031 - 黄獨 - Dioscorea bulbifera L., 1804.jpg|thumb|Dioscorea bulbifera L. from the Japanese Seikei Zusetsu agricultural encyclopedia]]
''Dioscorea bulbifera'' is a [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[vine]] with broad, alternate leaves, and two types of [[storage organ]]s. The plant forms [[bulbils]] in the leaf axils of the twining stems, and [[tuber]]s beneath the ground. These tubers are like small, oblong [[potato]]es. Some varieties are edible and [[plant cultivation|cultivated]] as a [[agriculture|food crop]], especially in [[West Africa]]. The tubers of edible varieties often have a bitter taste, which can be removed by boiling. They can then be prepared in the same way as other yams, potatoes, and [[sweet potato]]es.

Air potato can grow extremely quickly, roughly 8 inches per day, and eventually reach over 60 ft long.<ref>[http://texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=DIBU Invasives Database, TexasInvasives.org, Dioscorea bulbifera]</ref> It typically climbs to the tops of trees and has a tendency to take over [[native plant]]s. New plants develop from bulbils that form on the plant, and these bulbils serve as a means of [[biological dispersal|dispersal]]. The aerial [[plant stem|stems]] of air potato die back in winter, but [[sprouting|resprouting]] occurs from bulbils and underground tubers.

The primary means of spread and [[plant reproduction|reproduction]] are by the bulbils. The smallest bulbils make control of air potato difficult due to their ability to sprout at a very small stage. The vine produces small white flowers; however, these are rarely seen when it grows in Florida. The fruits are capsules.<ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200028093 Flora of North America, ''Dioscorea bulbifera'' Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1033. 1753. ]</ref>

==Uses==
Air potato has been used as a [[home remedy|folk remedy]] to treat [[conjunctivitis]], [[diarrhoea]], and [[dysentery]], among other ailments.<ref>{{cite book |last=Duke |first=J. A. |author2=Judith L. DuCellier |title=Handbook of Alternative Cash Crops |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-tg7R4hU8hkC |year=1993 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-8493-3620-1}}</ref>

''D. bulbifera'' is highly important to the [[Tiwi people]] of [[Australia]], who use it in an important ceremony called ''kulama''. During the ceremony, the tubers are ritually cooked, and eaten on the third day.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Prance |editor1-first=Ghillean |editor2-last=Nesbitt |editor2-first=Mark |last1=Pieroni |first1=Andrea |author-link=Andrea Pieroni |date=2005 |title=The Cultural History of Plants |publisher=Routledge |page=36 |isbn=0415927463}}</ref>

===Toxicity===
Uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida, can be poisonous. These varieties contain the [[steroid]] [[diosgenin]], which is a principal material used in the manufacture of a number of [[Chemical synthesis|synthetic]] [[steroid hormones|steroidal]] [[hormone]]s, such as those used in [[hormonal contraception]].<ref name=NTBG>{{cite web |title=Meet the plants: ''Dioscorea bulbifera'' |work=National Tropical Botanical Garden |url=http://www.ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=4171 |access-date=2007-11-17 }}</ref> There have been claims<ref>{{cite web|title=Pest Plants, Air Potato: ''Dioscorea bulbifera'' |date=Jan 2010 |work=WalterReeves.com |url=http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/article.phtml?cat=10&id=33 |access-date=2010-01-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112093511/http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/article.phtml?cat=10&id=33 |archive-date=2006-11-12 }}</ref> that even the wild forms are rendered edible after drying and boiling, leading to confusion over actual [[toxicity]].

==Invasive species==
In some places, such as Florida, it is considered a [[noxious weed]] because of its quick-growing, large-leafed vine that spreads tenaciously and shades out any plants growing beneath it. The bulbils on the vines sprout and become new vines, twisting around each other to form a thick mat. If the plant is cut to the ground, the tubers can survive for extended periods and send up new [[shoot]]s later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Air potato takes over |work=The Nature Conservancy |url=http://www.nature.org/initiatives/invasivespecies/misc/airpotato.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515104755/http://www.nature.org/initiatives/invasivespecies/misc/airpotato.html |archive-date=May 15, 2007 |access-date=February 10, 2013 }}</ref>

The [[leaf beetle]] ''[[Lilioceris cheni]]'' has been studied and employed as an agent of [[biological pest control]] for the plant, with releases in 2012.<ref name=usda>[http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/downloads/2011/Lilioceris-airpotato.pdf Field release of ''Lilioceris cheni'' Gressit & Kimoto (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for biological control of air potato, ''Dioscorea bulbifera'' (Dioscoreaceae), in the continental United States: Environmental Assessment.] USDA. 2011.</ref><ref name=miami>Morgan, C. [http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/21/3014684/in-south-florida-a-tiny-new-weapon.html In South Florida, a tiny new weapon against the invasive potato vine.] ''Miami Herald'' September 21, 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005195735/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/21/3014684/in-south-florida-a-tiny-new-weapon.html |date=October 5, 2012 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Domesticated plants and animals of Austronesia]]
*[[Yam production in Nigeria]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005). ''Food Plants of the World''. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, Inc. {{ISBN|0-88192-743-0}}
* [http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/133 ''Dioscorea bulbifera''.] University of Florida.

==External links==
{{WestAfricanPlants|Dioscorea bulbifera}}
* [https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/air-potato Species Profile - Air Potato (''Dioscorea bulbifera'')], National Invasive Species Information Center, [[United States National Agricultural Library]]. Lists general information and resources for Air Potato.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q311239}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dioscorea bulbifera}}
[[Category:Dioscorea|bulbifera]]
[[Category:Flora of Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Perennial vegetables]]
[[Category:Flora of Christmas Island]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[Category:Yams (vegetable)]]

Dioscorea bulbifera - Revision history

Mvjceng: refined layout additionally to improve readability

>Slovenichibo: Set {{DEFAULTSORT}} to Dioscorea bulbifera using Hot Default Sort