Dioscorea preussii Pax

Tuber replaced annually, narrowly cylindric, up to 40 cm. long, with thickened horizontal branches, up to 30 cm. long and 3.5 cm. in diameter below.. Twining stems up to 24 m. long, many-sided and narrowly winged below, glabrescent.. Leaves alternate; petiole up to 15(–25) cm. long; blade heart-shaped, up to 12(–28) cm. long and 15(–30) cm. broad, with an acute acumen 1(–2) cm. long; indumentum of dense to sparse woolly somewhat adpressed medifixed hairs, more dense beneath, glabrescent in age.. Inflorescences pendulous, racemose.. Male up to 5 from a leaf-axil, up to 22 cm. long; pedicels ± 1 mm. long. Perianth opening flat, ± 5 mm. across; segments slightly concave, pubescent outside, the 3 inner rather broader. Stamens 3; staminodes 3, arching over the pistilode.. Female inflorescence spicate, axillary, up to 34 cm. long; flowers solitary, directed downwards; perianth flat, almost 4 mm. wide. Ovary ± 8 mm. long.. Capsule as in fig. 1/8, p. 4, with a narrow wing along each suture, 4–5.5 cm. long and 2.3 cm. in diameter.. Seeds winged at both ends, ± 2.5 cm. long.

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary clearings in rainforest in Congo. It suits humid locations. It grows in woodland savannah, along rivers and in palm groves.

The tubers are eaten in times of famine.

Can be grown by seedlings.