|
Dioscorea bulbifera
|
|
|
|
Family:
DIOSCOREACEAE
|
|
Citation: Dioscorea bulbifera L., Sp. Pl. 1033. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 296. 1892; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1511(1055). 1928(1055); Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 291. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 411. 1984; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 385. 1985; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 473. 1988; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 397. 1989; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 807. 1990; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 507. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 479. 1994; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 468. 1996; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 342. 1997; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 723. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 349. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 504. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 692. 2009.
Helmia bulbifera (L.) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 5: 435. 1850.
Dioscorea bulbifera L. var. vera Prain & Burkill, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10:26.1914; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1511 (1055). 1928; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 454. 1998.
|
|
Malayalam Name(s):
Alanthal, Kattukachil, Nukappa, Pannikizhangu
|
|
Tamil name(s):
|
|
English name(s):
Air potato, Bulb bearing yam, Potato yam
|
|
Description:
Vines with tuberous root stocks; Stem terete, twining to left. Leaves 9-25 x 8-23 cm, ovate-suborbicular, base deeply cordate, apex acuminate to shortly caudate, membranous, glabrous, basally 9-11-ribbed; petiole to 20 cm long. Bulbils frequent in leaf axils and in inflorescence. Male flowers in slender, axillary panicled spikes, pendulous, to 18 cm long; bracteoles ovate, acute. Perianth light green; lobes 6, biseriate, c. 2.5 mm long, linear-oblong. Stamens 6 free. Female spikes 1-3 together; staminodes 3; ovary triquetrous, 3-locular, ovules 2-per locule; styles 3; stigma 2-fid, reflexed. Capsules 1.5-2.3 x 1-1.5 cm, oblong, 3-winged.
|
|
Habit:
Climber
|
|
Flowering & Fruiting:
September-October
|
|
District(s):
All Districts
|
|
Medicinal:
Yes
|
|
Habitat:
Moist deciduous forests, also in the plains
|
|
Distribution:
Paleotropics
|
|
Aquatic:
No
|
|
Epiphyte(s):
No
|
|
Saprophyte:
No
|
|
Stem parasite:
No
|
|
Root parasite:
No
|
|
Flower colour(s):
Green
|
|
Weed:
No
|
|
Monocot/Dicot:
Monocotyledonous Plants
|
|
Exotic:
No
|
|
Garden:
No
|
|
Edible:
No
|
|
Vegetable:
Yes
|
|
Endemic to:
|
|
IUCN status:
|
|
Altitude:
|
|
Localities:
Peechi, Kattalappara, Pezha, Adoor, Pathenthode, Taliparamba, Tolpetty, Neriamangalam to Velvara, Chindaki forest, Beemanadi, Vadapuram, Nedumkayam, Kanjirakadavu
|