Tuber replaced annually, cylindric, descending vertically, branching at the top (fide Lawton), up to 5 cm. in diameter but often very much less.. Twining or scrambling stems up to 8 m. long, densely or sparsely beset with spreading or felted stellate or dendroid hairs, rarely (subsp. orientalis) almost glabrous, glabrescent in age.. Leaves usually opposite, occasionally alternate; petiole up to 5(–9) cm. long; blade ovate-cordate to broadly heart-shaped, acutely acuminate or gradually narrowed to an acute apex, up to 10 cm. long and 9.5 cm. broad, sometimes proportionally wider, more often proportionally narrower, with rather densely scattered stellate hairs beneath, with sparsely scattered stellate hairs and glabrescent above.. Inflorescences descending, spicate or racemose.. Male up to 3(–5) per leaf-axil, up to 12(–15) cm. long; flowers subsessile or shortly pedicellate, directed towards apex of inflorescence; perianth erect in flower, less than 2 mm. across; segments oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, glabrous or the 3 outer stellate-pubescent outside, up to 3.5 mm. long. Stamens 3; staminodes 3.. Female 2(–3) per leaf-axil, up to 16(–23) cm. long; perianth erect, with apices of the tepals incurved, ± 1 mm. across. Ovary densely stellate-pubescent.. Capsule as in fig. 1/6, p. 4, 2.5–3.5(–4) cm. diameter, glabrescent but remaining stellate-pubescent near the axis, directed upwards.. Seeds (fig. 1/6a) winged all round, up to 2 cm. in diameter.
More
A yam. There are 1-6 tubers. They are up to 5 cm across. They are narrow and extend downwards into the soil. The stems twine right-handed. They do not have prickles. They can climb 6 m high. The leaves are usually opposite and the leaf blade in entire. The leaves are 6 cm across. The flowers are in loose arrangements. There are 3 subspecies.
Or out bulbils and when present the bulbils have white or pinkish flesh
Tubers annual, more or less lobed, considered to be poisonous.
Pubescent climber 10-20 ft. high
Home
