- Appearance
- Dioscorea alata is an herbaceous, twining vine that can grow to lengths exceeding 30 ft. (9.1 m). It invades open to shady areas in the extreme southeastern United States.
- Foliage
- Leaves are opposite, 8 in. (20.3 cm) long and narrowly heart-shaped with long petioles. The stems are square with the corners compressed into wings.
- Flowers
- The vine rarely flowers.
- Fruit
- The chief means of reproduction is by aerial potato-like tubers (bulbils) located at the leaf axils and by underground tubers.
- Ecological Threat
- Dioscorea alata can form dense masses of vines that cover and kill native vegetation including trees. It was introduced from Asia as a possible food source in the early 1800s. In some countries it is presently being cultivated for medicinal uses.
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