Forest Elephant's Foot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Forest Elephant's Foot
• Forest Elephants-foot
• Forest Elephantsfoot
• Tortoise Plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Testudinaria glaucescens
• Dioscorea montana var. lobata
• Testudinaria paniculata
• Dioscorea montana var. sagittata
• Testudinaria rehmannii
• Testudinaria montana var. paniculata
• Testudinaria multiflora
• Dioscorea sylvatica var. brevipes
• Testudinaria sylvatica
• Dioscorea sylvatica subsp. lydenbergensis
• Testudinaria sylvatica var. brevipes
• Dioscorea sylvatica var. multiflora
• Testudinaria sylvatica var. lydenbergensis
• Dioscorea sylvatica var. paniculata
• Testudinaria sylvatica var. multiflora
• Dioscorea sylvatica var. rehmannii
• Testudinaria sylvatica var. paniculata
• Dioscorea rehmannii
• Testudinaria sylvatica var. rehmannii
• Dioscorea montana var. duemmeri
• Dioscorea montana var. glauca
• Dioscorea montana var. paniculata
• Dioscorea marlothii
• Dioscorea hederifolia
• Dioscorea brevipes

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Dioscoreales and the family Dioscoreaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Dioscorea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several distinct regions within the African continent. In South Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Moving toward the southern portion of the continent, it also inhabits the Cape Provinces. Furthermore, the species is known to grow within the KwaZulu-Natal region of Southern Africa. Collectively, these locations define the specific geographical range of Dioscorea sylvatica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea sylvatica is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit diverse topographical zones. This species is found across a significant vertical gradient, ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 125 m AMSL to higher montane environments reaching up to a maximum of 1650 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests an adaptability to varying temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture levels found throughout these different altitudes.

Elevational range max:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

125 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea sylvatica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it employs specialized survival strategies to endure unfavorable environmental conditions by protecting its vital organs underground. Specifically, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it relies on underground storage organs, such as tubers, to maintain its biological functions and facilitate regrowth during dormant periods.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea sylvatica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning as an independent organism that does not rely on other plants for nutrients. It is an obligatory climber, specifically growing as a vine or liana to ascend towards light. The plant exhibits a terrestrial habit, ranging from semi-aquatic to terrestrial environments, and is not an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a substantial climber with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Dioscorea sylvatica has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.

Anthelmintic

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antifungal

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antimicrobial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Cytotoxic

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Conditions

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

Elephantiasis

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Preparations

Dioscorea sylvatica has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Tuber bark extracts.

Tuber bark extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology