| air-potato |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: DIBU USDA ARS GRIN: 14186 ITIS: 43369 NAPIS: PGAABBA |
| Dioscorea bulbifera L. | |
|
Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae |
|
| Synonym(s): air potato, air potato, bitter yam, air-potato, air yam | |
Air potato is an herbaceous, twining vine that can grow to lengths exceeding 60 ft. (18 m). It invades open areas in the sub-tropical southeastern United States. The leaves are alternate, 8 in. (20.3 cm) long, broadly-heart shaped with prominent veins that resemble greenbrier leaves. The rounded stems are thin and wiry. The chief means of reproduction are aerial, potato-like tubers (bulbils) located at the leaf axils. The vine rarely flowers. Air potato can form dense masses of vines that cover and kill native vegetation including trees within a variety of habitats such as forest edges, hammocks, and many disturbed areas. It was introduced from Africa for food and medicinal purposes in the early 1900s. Air potato is a common and widespread food crop throughout most tropical regions of the world. |
|
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
- Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - University of Florida
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Florida National Forests Invasive Plant Series - USDA Forest Service
- Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; in July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Air bulbils in December James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); bulbils Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in December James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); bulbils in December James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Archbold Biological Station
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council
- Alabama Noxious Weeds Class A Noxious Weed
- Alachua County Cogongrass Initiative
- Apalachicola Invasive Working Group
- Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Category I
- Florida Keys Invasive Species Task Force
- Florida Noxious Weeds
- Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area
- Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area - EARLY DRAFT
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 3
Partners
