Dioscorea dumetorum
Dioscorea dumetorum, commonly known as wild yam, is a climbing medicinal plant valued for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Rich in bioactive compounds, it is traditionally used to support hormonal balance and alleviate inflammation. This versatile tuber plays a significant role in ethnobotanical practices and modern pharmacological research.
- Scientific name: Dioscorea dumetorum
- Family: Dioscoreaceae
- Native range: Africa
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 is placed in the order Dioscoreales and the family Dioscoreaceae. It is further categorized under the genus Dioscorea, specifically as the species Dioscorea dumetorum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Dioscoreales | WCVP |
| Family | Dioscoreaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dioscorea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Dioscorea dumetorum, is known by various names depending on the region and language. In Hausa, it is referred to as Gursami, while in French, it is commonly called igname amère. In Malay, its names vary significantly, including gadung lilin, sulur gadung, and gadung mabuk.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ha | Gursami | Wikidata |
| ms | Gadung lilin | Wikidata |
| fr | igname amère | Wikidata |
| ms | Sulur gadung | Wikidata |
| ms | Gadung mabuk | Wikidata |
| zh | 杜氏薯蓣 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Dioscorea dumetorum, is native to several regions within West Tropical Africa. Its geographical presence is notably documented in the nation of Benin. Furthermore, the species can be found growing within the borders of Burkina Faso. It also extends its distribution into the coastal and inland areas of Ghana. Finally, the plant is established in the West Tropical African countries of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Dioscorea dumetorum, is primarily valued for its underground storage organs, specifically its large, starchy tubers. These tubers serve as the main medicinal and nutritional component of the plant, containing various bioactive compounds that are utilized in traditional healing practices. Whether referred to in the plural as tubers or in the singular as a tuber, these thickened structures are the most significant part of the plant for both consumption and therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tubers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuber | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dioscorea dumetorum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include dioscoretine.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dioscoretine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |