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

[Susan Gitlin]

Thank you, Rod.

So Chinese yam's leaves can take on both the rounder shape and well as the
elongated shape?

Also, the images of Chinese yam that I have seen did not have the partially
purple stems, so I am truly at a loss as to how to distinguish it from the
other vines.  But if there are no natives with which to confuse it, then
I'll pull it out.

--Susan

On Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 3:56 PM Rod Simmons <Rod.Simmons at alexandriava.gov>
wrote:

> 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
>
> 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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