Chinese yam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese yam
• Chinese-potato
• cinnamon-vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dioscorea polystachya f. elongata
• Dioscorea cayenensis var. pseudobatatas
• Dioscorea polystachya f. tsukune
• Dioscorea decaisneana
• Dioscorea batatas
• Dioscorea doryphora
• Dioscorea rosthornii
• Dioscorea potaninii
• Dioscorea pseudobatatas
• Dioscorea swinhoei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Dioscoreales and the family Dioscoreaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Dioscorea as Dioscorea polysachya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range spanning across several distinct regions in East Asia. In the Russian Far East, its presence is noted in both the Kuril Islands and the Primorye region. Moving into China, the species is widely distributed throughout the South-Central territories. Furthermore, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Inner Mongolia. Finally, its range extends into the North-Central parts of China, completing its diverse distribution pattern.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea polystachya is primarily defined by its preference for forest environments, where it thrives under the complex structural layers of woodland ecosystems. Within these forested habitats, the plant occupies specific niches that provide the necessary balance of filtered sunlight, high humidity, and organic soil matter required for its growth. As a climbing vine, its ecological role involves utilizing the vertical architecture of the forest, using trees and shrubs as physical support to reach higher strata of the canopy for light acquisition. This dependency on forest structures suggests that its survival is closely linked to the stability of the forest understory and the availability of diverse climbing substrates. The microclimate provided by the forest canopy helps regulate temperature fluctuations and maintains the moisture levels essential for the development of its tuberous structures and leafy foliage.

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea polystachya is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a plant adapted to survive unfavorable environmental conditions through underground storage organs, its life form is classified as a geophyte, specifically functioning as a cryptophyte. This strategic growth habit ensures that the plant can remain dormant during periods of stress and re-emerge when conditions become favorable for vegetative growth and reproduction.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea polystachya is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb that functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing surrounding structures for support to ascend. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and it maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than growing as an epiphyte.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dioscorea polyschaya is characterized by a distinct seasonal flowering period that facilitates its pollination processes. The onset of the flowering stage typically occurs in June, marking the beginning of its reproductive cycle. This period of floral development continues through the summer months, eventually reaching its conclusion in August. This specific timeframe ensures that the plant's reproductive efforts are concentrated within these mid-year months, allowing for the necessary biological transitions required for seed production and subsequent propagation.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dioscorea polystachya 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Dioscorea polystachya has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 2,7-Dihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyphenanthrene, 3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, 6,7-Dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene, CD.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

2,7-Dihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyphenanthrene

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

6,7-Dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

CD

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

DIOSGENIN

1. Nutrients

DL-Tryptophan

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dioscin

1. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Flavonoid

1. Natural product research

Activities

Dioscorea polystachya has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifatigue.

Antifatigue

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Conditions

Dioscorea polystachya has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include apoptosis, digestion, inflammation, kidney, lung.

Apoptosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Digestion

1. Environmental geochemistry and health

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Kidney

1. Environmental geochemistry and health

Lung

1. Environmental geochemistry and health

Oxidative stress

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Dioscorea polystachya has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dioscorea batatas extract, Methanolic extracts, TCM herbal extracts, aqueous methanolic extracts.

Dioscorea batatas extract

1. Journal of biomedical science

Methanolic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Tcm herbal extracts

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Aqueous methanolic extracts

1. Natural product research