img

Dioscorea bulbifera

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Dioscoreales Family: Dioscoreaceae Genus: Dioscorea

air potato, bitter yam, hoi

img

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Vines.

Stems: Stems twining to the left, slightly angled, up to 30 m long, glabrous, never with prickles, tubers nearly always solitary, 5–8 cm in diameter.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades broadly ovate–cordate, 4–20 cm long, usually 3–18 cm wide. Surfaces glabrous. Margins entire. 7–11-veined. Petioles 6–16 cm long, axils usually with bulbils. Stipules absent or with stipule-like outgrowths at the base of the petiole.

Flowers: Staminate flowers widely spaced, in slender, simple or fasciculate spikes or in elongate panicles, each flower subtended by 2 unequal, ovate bracts; pistillate flowers in pendent, rather stiff, simple spikes, these 3–6 in fascicles. Flowers unisexual, the plants dioecious. Calyx of staminate flowers with tepals white, lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm long; Calyx of pistillate flowers with white tepals turning yellow with age. Staminate flowers with 6 stamens; Pistillate flowers with 6 staminodes. Ovary inferior, 3-carpellate (pistillate flowers); stigmas irregularly 2-lobed. Staminate flowers with a rudimentary ovary.

Fruit: Capsules ca. 25 mm long; with wings ca. 8 mm wide. Seeds winged on basal side only.

Ploidy: 2n = 36; 40; 54; 60; 70; 80; 98–100

Habitat: Naturalized primarily in mesic areas; especially shaded mesic valleys and disturbed mesic forest.

Elevation Range: 5–670 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

img

Synonyms (33)

Dioscorea anthropophagorum A.Chev. (1913)
Dioscorea bulbifera f. domestica (Makino) Makino & Nemoto (1931)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. albotuberosa Y.F.Zhou, Z.L.Xu & Y.Y.Hang (2008)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. anthropophagorum (A.Chev.) Summerh. (1931)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. brachybotryum Y.Y.Hang & Y.F.Zhou (2018)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. crispata (Roxb.) Prain (1903)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. elongata (F.M.Bailey) Prain & Burkill (1914)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. heterophylla (Roxb.) Prain & Burkill (1936)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. pulchella (Roxb.) Prain (1903)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. sativa Prain (1903)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. simbha Prain & Burkill (1914)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. suavia Prain & Burkill (1914)
Dioscorea bulbifera var. vera Prain & Burkill (1914)
Dioscorea crispata Roxb. (1832)
Dioscorea heterophylla Roxb. (1832)
Dioscorea hoffa Cordem. (1895)
Dioscorea hofika Jum. & H.Perrier (1910)
Dioscorea korrorensis R.Knuth (1924)
Dioscorea latifolia Benth. (1849)
Dioscorea longipetiolata Baudon (1913)
Dioscorea perrieri R.Knuth (1924)
Dioscorea pulchella Roxb. (1832)
Dioscorea rogersii Prain & Burkill (1914)
Dioscorea sativa (Misapplied)
Dioscorea sativa f. domestica Makino (1912)
Dioscorea sativa f. spontanea Makino (1902)
Dioscorea sativa var. elongata F.M.Bailey (1902)
Dioscorea sativa var. rotunda F.M.Bailey (1902)
Dioscorea tamifolia Salisb. (1805)
Dioscorea tenuiflora Schltdl. (1843)
Dioscorea violacea Baudon (1913)
Helmia bulbifera (L.) Kunth (1850)
Polynome bulbifera (L.) Salisb. (1866)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • These bitter yams used only in times of famine; poisonous unless rinsed in running water prior to cooking (Abbott 1992:40).

CULTURE

  • [I] ‘A‘ohe ulu ka hoi. The hoi vine does not grow. There is no interest in that. Said by one who lacks interest, or is bored with what is being said or done. A play on hoi (bitter yam) and hoihoi (interest). [II] Hu ka ‘ala‘ala.The aerial bulbs appeared.

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 1033 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1437 (K, O, Mo, M, H)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Dioscorea bulbifera Near Kailua Along sunny roadside. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2111 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
2 Dioscorea bulbifera Palolo Valley, right fork Growing extensively amongst vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 508 Oahu BISH 1920-08-01
3 Dioscorea bulbifera Kawaiiki Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 24835 Oahu BISH 1952-01-01
4 Dioscorea bulbifera Hookena Preserved_Specimen Common, naturalized vine. Herbst, D.R. 5049 Hawaii BISH 1974-10-07
5 Dioscorea bulbifera Kalaupapa; Kauhako crater, SE zone Preserved_Specimen twining perennial herb or shrub Wysong, M.L. 513 Molokai BISH 2004-12-07
6 Dioscorea bulbifera Palolo, lateral ridge Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2400 Oahu BISH 1916-08-07
7 Dioscorea bulbifera Halawa Valley museum courtyard Preserved_Specimen Yen, D.E. Molokai BISH 1969-07-26
8 Dioscorea bulbifera East Maui, Hana Preserved_Specimen Handy, E.S. 3334 Maui BISH 1933-07-15
9 Dioscorea bulbifera Hookena, Kona coast, along highway Preserved_Specimen vine Herbst, D.R. 5049 Hawaii BISH 1974-10-07
10 Dioscorea bulbifera Kawaihau District: Kuilau Trail, below Keahua Arboretum. Disturbed lowland windward Forest Ground cover of weedy grasses, Sphagneticola trilobata, Lantana camara, Cyclosorus interruptus, Rubus rosifolius, Ageratina, Clidemia, Nephrolepis, Rubus rosifolius. Canopy of Aleurites, Pisonia, Sen Preserved_Specimen Vine up to 20 ft. Single leaf w/ palmate venation. Leaves yellow-green. Potatoes on vine up to tennis ball size, many this size on ground. Smaller on vine and falling easily. Dull brown outside, inside light becoming yellow w/ orange spots when cut and oozing clear slime. Stem twisted in growth, light green w/ re Tangalin, N. 3560 Kauai BISH 2013-11-22
11 Dioscorea bulbifera Palolo, lateral ridge Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2400 Oahu BISH 1916-08-07
12 Dioscorea bulbifera Pali Trail Preserved_Specimen Russell, P. 129 Oahu BISH 1932-07-25
13 Dioscorea bulbifera East Maui, Hana Preserved_Specimen Handy, E.S. 3334 Maui BISH 1933-07-15
14 Dioscorea bulbifera Kohala Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. Hawaii BISH 1890-08-01
15 Dioscorea bulbifera Wailau Valley, valley floor Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 10373 Molokai BISH 1984-08-13
16 Dioscorea bulbifera Waiahole Valley Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 1249 Oahu BISH 1956-04-29
17 Dioscorea bulbifera Ka Logo (?) Reservoir (Kilawa) Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 575 Kauai BISH 1911-10-07
18 Dioscorea bulbifera Koolau Mts.; Waiahole Valley, along jeep trail just beyond chain Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5649 Oahu BISH 1986-04-05
19 Dioscorea bulbifera Manoa Cliff trail Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1914-10-10
20 Dioscorea bulbifera Wahiawa Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1908-08-05
21 Dioscorea bulbifera Manoa Cliff trail Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1914-10-10
22 Dioscorea bulbifera Waiahole Ditch Trail Preserved_Specimen Meebold, A. Oahu BISH 1932-06-01
23 Dioscorea bulbifera unknown Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. BISH
24 Dioscorea bulbifera Punaluu; near stream not far from start of Pig God Trail Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8951 Oahu BISH 1931-08-05
25 Dioscorea bulbifera Punaluu; bottom of Pig God Trail Wet jungle. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5565 Oahu BISH 1932-09-02
26 Dioscorea bulbifera Pupukea-Kahuku Road.o, Waimano Trail Lower forest, festooning 10 m trees. Preserved_Specimen Vines bulblet bearing. St.John, H. 25304 Oahu BISH 1954-11-07
27 Dioscorea bulbifera Bishop Museum Garden. Preserved_Specimen Creepers w/light green stems which sometimes are purplish; lvs light green; flwr whitish. van Royen, P. 10258 Oahu BISH 1969-06-25
28 Dioscorea bulbifera Wainiha Valley, side gulch on W side 0.75 mile upstream from intake Moist woods. Common vine climbing over trees. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 13955 Kauai BISH 1934-01-01
29 Dioscorea bulbifera Koolau Range; Kipapa Gulch, S. ridge Climbing up 10 m tree in open, rather moist woods. Preserved_Specimen Vine; flowering only at the summit; infl. pendent; flwrs whitish. St.John, H. 19827 Oahu BISH 1938-10-02
30 Dioscorea bulbifera East Maui, Honomanu Edge of wet, shaded forest area. Preserved_Specimen Vine bearing tubers in leaf axils. Herbst, D.R. 848 Maui BISH 1968-01-02
31 Dioscorea bulbifera Koolau Range; Waimano, Waimano Trail Moist woods; climbing on trees. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 20196 Oahu BISH 1941-03-23
32 Dioscorea bulbifera Wainiha Valley, stream below Hono o Na Pali In Hibiscus tiliaceus thicket along stream bank Preserved_Specimen Wilson, K.A. 222 Kauai BISH 1952-12-31
33 Dioscorea bulbifera East of Lohiau's house platform approximately 50' on hillside above Haena Beach Above a beach. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1978-06-14
34 Dioscorea bulbifera Waianae Mts.; Puu Kalena Climbing high on trees. Preserved_Specimen Bulblets detached, rooting on ground. St.John, H. 12956 Oahu BISH 1933-03-12
35 Dioscorea bulbifera Ridge 0.75 mile N of Laaukahi, Koloa. NW facing slope Climbing in woods. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 23008 Kauai BISH 1947-12-24
36 Dioscorea bulbifera Kaena Valley, along ditch-trail Wet, partly sunny region. Preserved_Specimen Perianth of young flwrs white; of old, yellow. Degener, O. 5569 Maui BISH 1927-07-14
37 Dioscorea bulbifera Aiea Valley Wet jungle with mountain apples. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5564 Oahu BISH 1932-09-04
38 Dioscorea bulbifera Castle Trail Wet, shaded forest. Preserved_Specimen Vine; rarely flowers in Hawaii. Herbst, D.R. Oahu BISH 1968-08-01
39 Dioscorea bulbifera Waialua Dist.; Waianae Mts., Pahole gulch, subgully on E side of gulch Climbing on Claoxylon & Pisonia on gully floor with Pisonia-Aleurites canopy. Uncommon. Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 1768 Oahu BISH 1978-09-01
40 Dioscorea bulbifera Haena Old terrace on other plants, partly sunny. Preserved_Specimen Vine 4 ? m high; frt brown, bulb-like. Earle, E. 38 Kauai BISH 1972-06-26
41 Dioscorea bulbifera ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The plant is common undera canopy of Psidium guajava. Preserved_Specimen Although there are no flower and fruit the shape of the leaf and the stem would indicate this to be D. bulbifera. Yoshida, L. Hawaii BISH 1979-04-16
42 Dioscorea bulbifera Pupukea-Paumalu Forest Reserve; along jeep road Climbing on Leucaena trees & assoc. with grasses on edge of native forest. Preserved_Specimen Ishikawa, S. 306 Oahu BISH 1973-09-20
43 Dioscorea bulbifera Near Kailua Along sunny roadside. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2111 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
44 Dioscorea bulbifera Kaena Valley, along ditch-trail Wet, partly sunny region. Preserved_Specimen Perianth of young flwrs white; of old, yellow. Degener, O. 5569 Maui BISH 1927-07-14
45 Dioscorea bulbifera Kapaa Homesteads; Kapaa Stream along Kahuna Road Growing up into Eugenia cumini & hanging down over stream. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1330 Kauai BISH 1985-10-25
46 Dioscorea bulbifera Mt. Tantalus Woods. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 9884 Oahu BISH 1929-09-26
47 Dioscorea bulbifera Castle Trail Wet, shaded forest. Preserved_Specimen Vine; rarely flowers in Hawaii. Herbst, D.R. Oahu BISH 1968-08-01
48 Dioscorea bulbifera Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve; 3.2 miles NW of Wailua Experiment Station Climbing on Aleurites & Hibiscus overstory. In dense shade w/Zingiber, Oplismenus, Nephrolepis. Preserved_Specimen Axillary tubers present. Stems terete. Ishikawa, S. 276 Kauai BISH 1973-08-20
49 Dioscorea bulbifera Punaluu; bottom of Pig God Trail Wet jungle. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5565 Oahu BISH 1932-09-02
50 Dioscorea bulbifera Bishop Museum Garden. Preserved_Specimen Creepers w/light green stems which sometimes are purplish; lvs light green; flwr whitish. van Royen, P. 10258 Oahu BISH 1969-06-25
51 Dioscorea bulbifera Punaluu; Castle trail Loose moist soil, steep slope in ohia woods. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 23377 Oahu BISH 1948-03-23
52 Dioscorea bulbifera North Halawa Valley; 20 m above stream on slope of valley, Site B1-92 Vine spread throughout undergrowth; assoc. w/pig trails. Preserved_Specimen Vine at least 5 m long; air potatoes falling to ground; no flwrs. McConnell, K. Oahu BISH 1991-12-04
53 Dioscorea bulbifera East of Lohiau's house remains approximately 50' on hillside above Haena Beach Above a beach. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1978-06-14
54 Dioscorea bulbifera Haena Old terrace on other plants, partly sunny. Preserved_Specimen Vine 4 ? m high; frt brown, bulb-like. Earle, E. 38 Kauai BISH 1972-06-26
55 Dioscorea bulbifera ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna district The plant is commoonn under a canopy of Psidium guajava. Preserved_Specimen There is no flower or fruit prsent. Yoshida, L. Hawaii BISH 1979-04-16
56 Dioscorea bulbifera Kaala, Waianae Acacia forest Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7451 Oahu BISH 1934-10-04
57 Dioscorea bulbifera Mt. Tantalus Dry shady hillside. Preserved_Specimen Many old 2 axillary tubers on ground, while specimens grew from between double tubers each 4 diam. Degener, O. Oahu BISH 1923-02-18
58 Dioscorea bulbifera Waianae Dist.; Mt Kaala Acacia forest. Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7451 Oahu BISH 1934-10-04
59 Dioscorea bulbifera Castle Trail Vine growing over kukui tree in wet, shaded gulch. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1432 Oahu BISH 1969-08-11
Back to Top