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Dioscorea alata

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

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

ube, uhi, winged yam

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Uhi or uhi ke‘oke‘o, is useful for treating ma‘i uiha a ikiiki i ka wela o ke kino a kahe nui ka hou i na wa a pau (weariness from a burning heat of the body with profuse sweating all the time). To treat, the flesh of ‘uhi ke‘oke‘o and kikawaioa (Christella cyatheoides) are mixed with spring water. Once blended well, drink mixture once in the morning and again in the evening (Chun 1994:247–248).

  • Uhi tubers are steamed and eaten, but are too mealy to make a good paste (like poi) (Handy et al. 1972:182; Malo 1951:42–43).

CULTURE

  • Large yam field (pa'uhi) located in an area surrounded by what are now Beretania, King, Nu‘uanu and Alakea streets. Planted by Kamehameha the Great in 1810, intended for providing visiting ships with food.

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • (Handy et al. 1972:179–180).

Natural History

Statewide Status

Only found in cultivation

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Molokai Only found in cultivation
Maui Potentially naturalizing
Hawai'i Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

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

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Dioscorea alata Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Yam white; vine green throughout except slightly reddish at base. Handy, E.S. Hawaii BISH 1931-09-03
2 Dioscorea alata Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Red yam; vine red at base & angular fringes of vine stem red. Handy, E.S. Hawaii BISH 1931-09-03
3 Dioscorea alata Wailau Valley, just mauka of native shacks Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8950 Molokai BISH 1928-08-11
4 Dioscorea alata Ohulehule Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. Oahu BISH 1924-11-09
5 Dioscorea alata Wainiha Preserved_Specimen Handy, E.S. Kauai BISH 1931-07-23
6 Dioscorea alata Koolau Range; Windward side, windswept ridge between Waiahole & Waikane valleys Preserved_Specimen Harris, J.A. 242049 Oahu BISH 1924-08-16
7 Dioscorea alata Keanae Valley, along ditch trail Sunny, grassy, wet slope. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5570 Maui BISH 1927-07-14
8 Dioscorea alata Lihue Dist.; Puhi Camp just W of Kauai Community College Plants from homesites as camp was razed. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2001 Kauai BISH 1986-12-05
9 Dioscorea alata Wailau; east side of valley In thicket. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5563 Molokai BISH 1928-08-14
10 Dioscorea alata Limahuli Valley; Ridge spine on E side of Valley Growing with Dioscorea bulbifera. Preserved_Specimen Stem angular, green w/purplish-red mottling & 4 purplish-red wings; petiole same; auricles at base of petiole purplish-red as is leaf at petiole attachment. Twining counter clockwise. Flynn, T.W. 1800 Kauai BISH 1986-07-02
11 Dioscorea alata Puna; Panau Nui Vine planted near dwelling Preserved_Specimen Fagerlund, G.O. 1099 Hawaii BISH 1945-08-02
12 Dioscorea alata East Molokai; Wailau Valley, N coast Along trail. Preserved_Specimen Climbing over brush; leaves red-veined Fosberg, F.R. 9624 Molokai BISH 1933-07-03
13 Dioscorea alata Halawa Valley Archaeological site # 50-0a-B1-75 Isolated plant near early historic house site. Preserved_Specimen Climbing in Psidium guajava (Guava) and trailing on the ground. Addison 1 Oahu BISH 1991-07-30
14 Dioscorea alata Kailua; Olomana subdivision, 593 Uluhala St Preserved_Specimen Vine; stems winged, green suffused w/purple; lvs thin, hastate-cordate. Staples, G.W. 894 Oahu BISH 1993-07-19
15 Dioscorea alata Halehaku, near Kapalaalaea Reservoir Preserved_Specimen Vine w/pale to medium green foliage. Herbst, D.R. 4092 Maui BISH 1974-08-27
16 Dioscorea alata Waianu, Waihole Open forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11399 Oahu BISH 1937-08-10
17 Dioscorea alata Halawa Valley Archaeological site # 50-0a-B1-75 Isolated plant near early historic house site. Preserved_Specimen Climbing in Psidium guajava (Guava) and trailing on the ground. Addison 1 Oahu BISH 1991-07-30
18 Dioscorea alata Kailua; Olomana subdivision, 593 Uluhala St Preserved_Specimen Vine; stems winged, green suffused w/purple; lvs thin, hastate-cordate. Staples, G.W. 894 Oahu BISH 1993-07-19
19 Dioscorea alata Kailua; Olomana subdivision, 593 Uluhala St Preserved_Specimen Vine; stems winged, green suffused w/purple; lvs thin, hastate-cordate. Staples, G.W. 894 Oahu BISH 1993-07-19
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