Dioscorea zingiberensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Dioscorea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its presence is documented across the South-Central territories. It also extends into the North-Central regions of China. Furthermore, the species can be found throughout China Southeast. Beyond China, its distribution includes the Indo-China region, specifically within Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea zingiberensis is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution across diverse terrain. This species is found across a broad vertical gradient, ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 100 m AMSL to higher montane environments reaching a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. On average, the plant thrives at a mean elevation of 800 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude ecological niches where environmental conditions are optimized for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea zingiberensis is characterized by its specialized survival strategies, functioning primarily as a geophyte and a cryptophyte. As a geophyte, the plant relies on underground storage organs, such as tubers, to persist through unfavorable environmental conditions, allowing it to remain dormant until optimal growing seasons arrive. This classification as a cryptophyte signifies that its perennating buds are located below the soil surface, providing protection from desiccation, extreme temperatures, and herbivory. During its active phase, the plant emerges from its subterranean structures to utilize available resources, but it completes its seasonal cycle by retreating back into its protected underground state, ensuring long-term survival through these specialized life forms.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea zingiberensis is characterized by its growth habit as an obligatory climber, utilizing specialized structures to ascend towards light sources. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic relationship with host plants, and is strictly a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte. In terms of its structural composition, the plant is non-woody, exhibiting a herbaceous texture throughout its climbing stems.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dioscorea zingiberensis is characterized by the production of specific fruit structures that exhibit measurable morphological variations. The fruits produced by this species display a range of dimensions, with the length varying from a minimum of 1.2 cm to a maximum of 2 cm, maintaining an average length of 1.6 cm. Similarly, the fruit width shows notable diversity, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, with a mean width of 1.25 cm. These specific dimensional parameters define the physical characteristics of the fruit during its developmental stages.

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.6 cm

Fruit length min:

1.2 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dioscorea zingiberensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, leaf, stem.

Rhizome

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Natural product communications
4. Food & function
5. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Leaf

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

Stem

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Dioscorea zingiberensis has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DIOSGENIN, Dioscin, cholesterol, Protodeltonin, Parvifloside.

DIOSGENIN

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Horticulture research
4. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
5. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Dioscin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

cholesterol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Horticulture research
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. BMC plant biology

Protodeltonin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Parvifloside

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Phytosterols

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Beauvericin

1. Natural product communications

Brassinosteroids

1. Horticulture research

C16:0

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

C18:1

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Activities

Dioscorea zingiberensis has 3 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Cardiovascular.

Antibacterial

1. Natural product communications

Antimicrobial

1. Natural product communications

Cardiovascular

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Dioscorea zingiberensis has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, neuroprotection, rheumatic arthritis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations