Dioscorea
Dioscorea
Dioscorea (pronunciation: /daɪ.əˈskɔːr.i.ə/), commonly known as yam, is a genus of over 600 species of flowering plants in the family Dioscoreaceae. The name Dioscorea is derived from the ancient Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides.
Etymology
The genus name Dioscorea is in honor of the ancient Greek physician and botanist, Dioscorides. The term is derived from the Greek words "Dios" meaning "of Zeus" and "korea" meaning "maiden".
Description
Dioscorea species are perennial herbaceous vines. They grow from tubers or rhizomes. The leaves are spirally arranged and heart-shaped. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, with separate male and female flowers on different plants.
Uses
Many species of Dioscorea are grown for their edible tubers, which are a major food source in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Some species are also used in traditional medicine.
Related Terms
- Tuber: The swollen, fleshy, underground stem or root of a plant, used for food storage.
- Rhizome: A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes.
- Diosgenin: A steroid sapogenin, the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes of saponins, extracted from the tubers of Dioscorea wild yam, such as the Mexican species, Dioscorea mexicana.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dioscorea
- Wikipedia's article - Dioscorea
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