Dioscorea bulbifera: Difference between revisions
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External Links== |
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* [http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/airpotato.shtml Species Profile- Air Potato (''Dioscorea bulbifera'')], National Invasive Species Information Center, [[United States National Agricultural Library]]. Lists general information and resources for air potato. |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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Revision as of 18:23, 15 February 2011
| Dioscorea bulbifera Air potato | |
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| Species: | D. bulbifera
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| Dioscorea bulbifera | |
Dioscorea bulbifera, the Air potato, is a yam species. It is also known as Varahi in Sanskrit, Kaachil in Malayalam and Dukkar Kand in Marathi. The Air potato plant is native to Africa and Asia.
Description
Dioscorea bulbifera is a perennial vine with broad leaves and two types of storage organs. The plant forms bulbils in the leaf axils of the twining stems, and tubers beneath the ground. These tubers are like small, oblong potatoes, and they are edible and cultivated as a food crop, especially in West Africa. The tubers often have a bitter taste, which can be removed by boiling. They can then be prepared in the same way as other yams, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The air potato is one of the most widely-consumed yam species.
Uses
Air potato has been used as a folk remedy to treat conjunctivitis, diarrhea and dysentery, among other ailments.[1]
Toxicity
Uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida can be poisonous. These varieties contain the steroid, diosgenin, which is a principal material used in the manufacture of a number of synthetic steroidal hormones, such as those used in hormonal contraception.[2] There have been claims[3] that even the wild forms are rendered edible after drying and boiling, leading to confusion over actual toxicity.
Invasive species
In some places, such as Florida, it is an invasive species because of its quick-growing, large-leafed vine that spreads tenaciously and shades out any plants growing beneath it. The bulbils on the vines sprout and become new vines, twisting around each other to form a thick mat. If the plant is cut to the ground, the tubers can survive for extended periods and send up new shoots later.[4]
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Dioscorea bulbifera
References
- ^ Duke, James A. (1993). Handbook of Alternative Cash Crops. CRC Press. ISBN 0849336201.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Meet the plants: Dioscorea bulbifera". National Tropical Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
- ^ "Pest Plants, Air Potato: Dioscorea bulbifera". WalterReeves.com. Jan 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
- ^ "Air potato takes over". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
External Links
- Species Profile- Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for air potato.
Further reading
- Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005). Food Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, Inc. ISBN 0-88192-743-0