[MAIPC] Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea alata, or something else (I hope)?

[Rod Simmons]

Hi Susan,

It’s Chinese Yam – a nasty weed.

From Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora:

Family
Dioscoreaceae
Botanical Name
Dioscorea polystachya Turczaninow
Common Name
Chinese Yam, Cinnamon Vine
Synonym(s)
Dioscorea batatas Descaisne; Dioscorea oppositifolia L., misapplied
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Dioscorea polystachya Turczaninow
Comments
Habitat
Disturbed forests, particularly of mesic uplands and bottomlands; old fields, roadsides, around old homesites. Frequent throughout.
Native Status
Introduced


All the best,

___________________________
Rod Simmons
Natural Resource Manager / Plant Ecologist
Natural Resources Division
Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
City of Alexandria, Virginia
2900-A Business Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22314
office phone: 703.746.4651
mobile phone: 703.930.8972
Rod.Simmons at alexandriava.gov<mailto:Rod.Simmons at alexandriava.gov>
http://alexandriava.gov/22560


From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> On Behalf Of Susan Gitlin
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2019 2:54 PM
To: MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org>
Subject: [MAIPC] Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea alata, or something else (I hope)?

Hi.  Here along the Maury River in Rockbridge County, VA, a friend of mine pointed out a vine to me, indicating that she thought it could be air potato.  I have been fortunate enough to never deal with air potato vines, and am not familiar with it nor its ilk.  In examining it and noting the purple area on the stem, I wonder if it is instead winged yam.  Neither appears on the MAIPC invasive plant list (https://www.invasive.org/maweeds.cfm<https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.invasive.org%2Fmaweeds.cfm&data=02%7C01%7Crod.simmons%40alexandriava.gov%7Ca3df1ecd7b254e70b45a08d71456381f%7Cfeaa9b3143754aeeadccc76ad32a890b%7C0%7C1%7C637000232871095922&sdata=eyHq1Ch3j3KQDA4EKvLSrIJ8HrND%2FjF0LVHCV09FXoU%3D&reserved=0>), but I see that both plants are invasive in regions south of here.  They would therefore be a fitting addition to my Invasive Plant Arboretum, but I would really rather not have yet another plant to remove.

Would you dear people please help me determine that this plant is not an invasive but rather a native plant that I can leave alone?

Much obliged.

--Susan Gitlin


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