Indian Yam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian Yam
• Mountain Potato
• Chinese yam

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dioscorea oppositifolia var. dukhunensis
• Dioscorea oppositifolia var. linnaei
• Dioscorea oppositifolia var. thwaitesii
• Dioscorea opposita

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Dioscoreales, it is classified under the family Dioscoreaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Dioscorea as Dioscorea oppositifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing throughout the diverse landscapes of India and its neighboring nation, Bangladesh. Its presence is also noted in the specific state of Assam, contributing to the local biodiversity. Furthermore, the species extends into the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya. Finally, its geographical range reaches as far south as the island of Sri Lanka.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea oppositifolia is characterized by its presence in specific high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a distinct vertical niche within its habitat. This species is primarily distributed across an elevational range that begins at 1600 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. Within this altitudinal belt, the plant adapts to the unique climatic conditions of mid-to-high mountain ecosystems, which often involve cooler temperatures and varying levels of moisture availability compared to lowland regions. Its survival and distribution are closely tied to these specific elevations, making it a specialized component of the high-altitude flora in its native range.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea oppositifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. As a member of the cryptophyte group, its vital organs are protected beneath the soil surface during periods of dormancy. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it transitions through its seasonal growth cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea oppositifolia is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and a forb. As a liana, it functions as an obligatory climber, relying on external structures for support rather than being self-supporting. The plant is terrestrial in its ecological habit, existing neither as an aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it maintains an independent lifestyle, functioning as a non-parasitic organism.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dioscorea oppositifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant's foliage is morphologically defined by cordate leaf forms with entire margins, notably lacking any defensive structures such as leaf thorns or spines. From a structural efficiency standpoint, the plant exhibits a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) across its measured parameters, with a recorded minimum, mean, and maximum value of 362.1984113 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per unit area and its physiological adaptation to light interception and resource allocation.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

362.1984113 cm²/g

Reproduction

Reproduction in Dioscorea oppositifolia is characterized by the production of specialized propagules, with specific quantitative data available regarding its seed characteristics. The reproductive output is defined by a highly consistent seed mass across the sampled population, showing no variance between the minimum and maximum recorded values. Specifically, the seed mass maintains a mean, maximum, and minimum value of exactly 0.00483 g. This uniformity in seed mass suggests a highly regulated developmental process during the maturation of the seeds, ensuring that each individual propagule carries a precise amount of biological material for potential germination and establishment.

Seed mass mean:

0.00483 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dioscorea oppositifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Carbohydrate research

Chemicals

Dioscorea oppositifolia has 53 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Polysaccharide, allantoin, DOM, DOP, Dioscin.

Polysaccharide

1. ACS biomaterials science & engineering
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Poultry science
4. International journal of molecular sciences

allantoin

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. NPJ science of food

DOM

1. Food chemistry
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

DOP

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids

Dioscin

1. Food chemistry
2. Nutrients

3,5-dimethoxy-2,7-phenanthrenediol

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

6,7-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-1,4-phenanthrenedione

1. Journal of natural products

ABA

1. BioMed research international

Alternanthin

1. Journal of natural products

Arabinan

1. Food chemistry

Activities

Dioscorea oppositifolia has 7 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, Abortifacient, Antibacterial, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of natural products
2. Carbohydrate research

Hypoglycemic

1. ACS biomaterials science & engineering
2. Carbohydrate research

Abortifacient

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Antibacterial

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antitumor

1. Carbohydrate research

Hypolipidemic

1. Carbohydrate research

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Dioscorea oppositifolia has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, obesity.

Colorectal cancer

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Obesity

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Dioscorea oppositifolia has 10 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dioscorea opposita polysaccharide (DOP), Dioscorea opposita polysaccharides, Qidan Dihuang Granule, adhesive yam microgel, ethanol extract of the aerial parts.

Dioscorea opposita polysaccharide (dop)

1. ACS biomaterials science & engineering

Dioscorea opposita polysaccharides

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Qidan dihuang granule

1. Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University

Adhesive yam microgel

1. ACS applied materials & interfaces

Ethanol extract of the aerial parts

1. Journal of natural products

Extracts

1. Journal of biosciences

Mucilage

1. Food chemistry

Soluble crude polysaccharides

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Stem pearls

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Water-soluble polysaccharide extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences