Dioscorea pentaphylla

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Botryosicyos pentaphyllus
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. jacquemontii
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. mollis
• Hamatris triphylla
• Ubium quadrifarium
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. javanica
• Dioscorea triphylla
• Ubium scandens
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. palmata
• Dioscorea sumbawensis
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. sacerdotalis
• Dioscorea spinosa
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. cardonii
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. communis
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. hortorum
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. kussok
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. linnaei
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. malaica
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. papuana
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. rheedei
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. simplicifolia
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. suli
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. thwaitesii
• Dioscorea pentaphylla var. unifoliata
• Dioscorea globifera
• Dioscorea digitata
• Dioscorea kleiniana
• Dioscorea jacquemontii
• Dioscorea changjiangensis
• Dioscorea codonopsidifolia

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is widely documented in the South-Central, Southeast, and Tibet regions. Furthermore, it can be found growing on the island of Hainan. Beyond the mainland, its distribution extends to the Nansei-shoto islands in Eastern Asia. Collectively, these locations highlight the specific ecological niches where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea pentaphyllos is defined by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal gradient, allowing it to thrive across diverse montane and sub-montane landscapes. It is most commonly found at a mean elevation of approximately 500 m AMSL, though its ecological niche extends from low-lying areas starting at a minimum of 100 m AMSL up to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 1600 m AMSL. This significant elevational range suggests that the species possesses high adaptive plasticity, enabling it to survive in varying temperature regimes and moisture gradients characteristic of these different altitudes.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Genetics

The genetics of Dioscorea pentaphylla are characterized by significant cytological variation, as evidenced by its diverse chromosome numbers, which have been documented at 40, 70, 80, and 144. This variability suggests a complex evolutionary history potentially involving polyploidization events or chromosomal rearrangements within different populations or accessions. Despite this numerical diversity across different studies, the ploidy level is identified as 2, indicating a diploid state in these specific genetic contexts.

Chromosome number :

40, 70, 80, 144

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea pentaphyllas is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a member of the cryptophyte group, it avoids unfavorable environmental conditions by keeping its vital organs underground. Specifically, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it survives through underground storage organs such as tubers, which provide the necessary energy reserves to regenerate and emerge during favorable seasonal cycles.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea pentaphyllas is characterized by a non-woody growth form, functioning as a herbaceous forb. This plant is classified as a terrestrial organism, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and it operates as an independent species without parasitic behavior. As a climber, it exhibits a vine-like growth habit, utilizing an obligatory climbing mechanism to ascend through its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dioscorea pentaphyllos is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's foliage exhibits specific morphological dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while the leaf width varies between 2 cm and 4 cm. In terms of water storage and tissue structure, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf and stem hydration levels rather than specialized water-storing tissues. Furthermore, Dioscorea pentaphyllos does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dioscorea pentaphylla is characterized by the development of a capsule-type fruit that facilitates its propagation. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 2.25 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm) and a mean width of 1.1 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm). The fruit is dehiscent, meaning it splits open at maturity to release its contents. Following maturation, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport the seeds away from the parent plant to new growing locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.25 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dioscorea pentaphylla has 40 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, GLUTAMIC ACID, IRON.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

GLUTAMIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Isoleucine

1. Dr. Duke

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Phytosterols

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dioscorea pentaphylla has 313 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Acidulant, Adjuvant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Dioscorea pentaphylla has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include biofilm.

Biofilm

1. Journal of molecular recognition : JMR

Preparations

Dioscorea pentaphylla has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous leaf extract.

Aqueous leaf extract

1. Journal of molecular recognition : JMR