purple yam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Greater Yams
• Water Yam
• Yams
• Guyana arrowroot
• greater yam
• ten-months yam
• white yam
• winged yam
• yam

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Elephantodon eburneus
• Polynome alata
• Dioscorea alata var. purpurea
• Ubium alatum
• Dioscorea alata var. globosa
• Dioscorea eburina
• Dioscorea alata var. tarri
• Dioscorea alata var. vera
• Dioscorea atropurpurea
• Dioscorea colocasiifolia
• Dioscorea globosa
• Dioscorea eburnea
• Dioscorea javanica
• Dioscorea purpurea
• Dioscorea rubella
• Dioscorea sapinii
• Dioscorea vulgaris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dioscoreales, falling into the family Dioscoreaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Dioscorea, specifically as the species Dioscorea alata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Dioscorea alata, exhibits a specific geographical distribution within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence has been documented across several distinct nations in this part of the continent. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Burkina. The species is also widely distributed throughout Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, the plant's range extends into the country of Mali.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea alatata is characterized by its significant adaptability to varying topographical gradients, spanning an elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2000 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal distribution allows the species to inhabit diverse climatic zones, ranging from lowland tropical environments to cooler montane regions. In terms of its preferred environment, the species is frequently documented within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating a notable resilience to human-modified landscapes and its ability to colonize disturbed habitats or agricultural margins where human activity has altered the natural vegetation cover.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea alata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, meaning it relies on specialized underground storage organs, such as tubers, to survive periods of dormancy and unfavorable environmental conditions. This survival strategy is further categorized by its classification as a cryptophyte, as its vital regenerative parts remain concealed beneath the soil surface, protecting the plant from external stressors while facilitating its long-term life cycle.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea alata is characterized by its growth as a non-woody, terrestrial forb and shrub that functions as an obligatory climbing vine. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and grows in a terrestrial manner rather than as an epiphyte. The plant displays a significant range in height, with a minimum stature of 1 m, a maximum reaching 10 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dioscorea alata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and energy production processes. The plant lacks succulence, indicating a standard water-storage strategy within its tissues rather than specialized succulent adaptations. Morphologically, its leaf physiology is supported by foliage that varies in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 22 cm, and leaf widths spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 17 cm. Additionally, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate for its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

22 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

17 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dioscorea alata is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its fruit and distinct reproductive mechanisms. The plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, as the trait is noted to be absent, necessitating cross-pollination for successful seed production. The resulting fruits vary in size, with a minimum length of 1.5 cm and a maximum length of 2.5 cm, maintaining an average fruit length of 2 cm. In terms of width, the fruits range from a minimum of 1.7 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm, with a mean fruit width of 3.5 cm. Regarding the dispersal of its seeds, the species utilizes an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning it relies on internal mechanisms to eject or release its seeds for propagation.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit width max:

4.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

3.5 cm

Fruit width min:

1.7 cm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dioscorea alata has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, STARCH, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, ALUMINUM, AMYLOSE.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

4-hydroxy benzoic acid

1. Pharmaceutical biology

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

AMYLOSE

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

ANTHOCYANIN

1. BMC plant biology

Anthocyanins

1. BMC plant biology

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dioscorea alata has 322 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihypertensive, Antioxidant, Osteogenic, ACE-Inhibitor, Absorbent.

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current protein & peptide science

Osteogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current protein & peptide science

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Dioscorea alata has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancers, antihypertensive, cardiovascular diseases, hemorrhoids, hypertension.

Cancers

1. Current protein & peptide science
2. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Current protein & peptide science

Hemorrhoids

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Hypertension

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Immune diseases

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Menopause

1. Current protein & peptide science

Osteoporosis

1. Current protein & peptide science

Preparations

Dioscorea alata has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include DR2, Dioscorea alata extract, diethyl ether extract, hydro-methanol extract of underground tuber.

Dr2

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dioscorea alata extract

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Diethyl ether extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydro-methanol extract of underground tuber

1. Pharmaceutical biology