Shoulang Yam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Shoulang Yam

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Strophis cirrhosa
• Dioscorea rhipogonoides
• Dioscorea intempestiva
• Dioscorea matsudae
• Dioscorea cirrhosa var. cylindrica
• Dioscorea camphorifolia
• Dioscorea angusta
• Dioscorea bonnetii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Dioscoreales and is a member of the family Dioscoreaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Dioscorea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several specific regions in Asia. Within China, its distribution is quite widespread, spanning from the South-Central provinces to the Southeast. It is also found in the unique environments of Hainan and the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Beyond mainland China, the species extends into the Eastern Asian territories of Nansei-shoto. Together, these locations highlight the plant's broad ecological presence across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea cirrhosa is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients within its natural habitat. This species thrives across a broad elevational range, occupying niches from lower subtropical zones up to montane environments. Specifically, its habitat spans from a minimum elevation of 350 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. The plant demonstrates a preference for mid-altitude ecological zones, with its distribution reaching a mean elevation of approximately 925 m AMSL. This vertical range suggests an adaptability to diverse temperature and moisture regimes found throughout these distinct topographical layers.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

925 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

350 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea cirrhosa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, relying on specialized underground storage organs to survive unfavorable conditions, a strategy that aligns with its classification as a cryptophyte. Despite its reliance on subterranean structures for dormancy, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage to facilitate continuous metabolic processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea cirrhosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb that functions as an obligatory climber, specifically taking the form of a liana. This plant can reach a significant plant height with a mean measurement of approximately 10 m. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being an epiphyte.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dioscorea cirrhosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant's vegetative morphology features lanceolate leaf forms with entire margins, providing a streamlined surface area for light interception without the presence of protective leaf thorns or spines. Furthermore, Dioscorea cirrhosa does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dioscorea cirrhosa is characterized by the development of specialized fruits that exhibit significant morphological variation in size. The dimensions of these fruits are recorded across a specific range, with the fruit length measuring a minimum of 1.8 cm and reaching a maximum of 3.5 cm, resulting in an observed mean fruit length of 2.65 cm. Similarly, the fruit width displays a notable breadth of variation, spanning from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 5.5 cm, with an average or mean fruit width calculated at 4 cm. These metric parameters define the physical characteristics of the reproductive structures essential to the plant's life cycle.

Fruit length max:

3.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.65 cm

Fruit length min:

1.8 cm

Fruit width max:

5.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

4 cm

Fruit width min:

2.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dioscorea cirrhosa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DIOSGENIN.

DIOSGENIN

1. PeerJ

Conditions

Dioscorea cirrhosa has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include apoptosis, oxidative damage, oxidative stress.

Apoptosis

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Oxidative damage

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Oxidative stress

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Preparations

Dioscorea cirrhosa has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include water fraction.

Water fraction

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan