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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

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

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 Only found in cultivation
Hawai'i Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

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

Other References

Non-naturalized Polynesian introduction; Wagner et al. 1990:1437; Staples & Herbst 2005:658 (KEY, DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Dioscorea alata L. Waianu, Waihole Open forest. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 11399 Oahu BISH 8/10/1937
2 Dioscorea alata L. lihue dist.; puhi camp just w of kauai community college Plants from homesites as camp was razed. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 2001 Kauai BISH 12/5/1986
3 Dioscorea alata L. hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN handy, e.s. collector number: s.n. Hawaii BISH 9/3/1931
4 Dioscorea alata L. Halehaku, near Kapalaalaea Reservoir PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 4092 Maui BISH 8/27/1974
5 Dioscorea alata L. East Moloka`i; Wailau Valley, N coast Along trail. PreservedSpecimen Fosberg, F.R. Collector Number: 9624 Molokai BISH Specimen 7/3/1933
6 Dioscorea alata L. Wailau; east side of valley In thicket. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 5563 Molokai BISH 8/14/1928
7 Dioscorea alata L. Koolau Range; Windward side, windswept ridge between Waiahole & Waikane valleys PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Harris, J.A. C242049 Oahu BISH 8/16/1924
8 Dioscorea alata L. halawa valley archaeological site # 50-0a-b1-75 Isolated plant near early historic house site. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN addison collector number: 1 Oahu BISH 7/30/1991
9 Dioscorea alata L. waianu, waihole Open forest. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. park, k.k.; salucop, f.; mcguire collector number: 11399 Oahu BISH 8/10/1937
10 Dioscorea alata L. Keanae Valley, along ditch trail Sunny, grassy, wet slope. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 5570 Maui BISH 7/14/1927
11 Dioscorea alata L. halawa valley archaeological site # 50-0a-b1-75 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN addison collector number: 1 Hawaii BISH 7/30/1991
12 Dioscorea alata L. koolau range; windward side, windswept ridge between waiahole & waikane valleys PRESERVED_SPECIMEN harris, j.a. collector number: c242049 Oahu BISH 8/16/1924
13 Dioscorea alata L. wailau; east side of valley In a mesic dry shrubland of Metrosideros, Dodonaea, and Styphelia. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. nitta, k. collector number: 5563 Molokai BISH 8/14/1928
14 Dioscorea alata L. limahuli valley; ridge spine on e side of valley Growing with Dioscorea bulbifera. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. bergau, m. collector number: 1800 Kauai BISH 7/2/1986
15 Dioscorea alata L. halehaku, near kapalaalaea reservoir PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. ishikawa, s. collector number: 4092 Maui BISH 8/27/1974
16 Dioscorea alata L. Wailau Valley, just mauka of native shacks PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 8950 Molokai BISH 8/11/1928
17 Dioscorea alata L. East Molokai; Wailau Valley, N coast Along trail. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 9624 Molokai BISH 7/3/1933
18 Dioscorea alata L. keanae valley, along ditch trail Sunny, grassy, wet slope. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. collector number: 5570 Maui BISH 7/14/1927
19 Dioscorea alata L. Puhi. Puhi Camp just west of Kauai Community College. From homesites as camp was razed. Cultivated plants. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 2001 Kauai PTBG 12/5/1986
20 Dioscorea alata L. oahu, hawaii. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener 5568 DBG 2/20/1927
21 Dioscorea alata L. wainanu, waiahole, oahu, territory of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 11399 NY 8/10/1937
22 Dioscorea alata L. along ditch-trail in keanae valley, maui, territory of hawaii Sunny, grassy wet slope PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 5570 NY 7/14/1927
23 Dioscorea alata L. Puhi Camp just west of Kauai Communit y College. From homesites as camp was razed. Cultivated plants. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1999 Kauai PTBG 12/5/1986
24 Dioscorea alata L. Limahuli Valley. On ridge spine on west side of valley. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1800 Kauai PTBG 7/2/1986
25 Dioscorea alata L. KAUAI: Lihue District. Puhi Camp just west of Kauai Communit y Collete. Cultivated plants from homesites as camp was raze d. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 2001 Kauai PTBG 12/5/1986
26 Dioscorea alata L. E. Maui. Wailua, along road to village. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H111101 Maui PTBG 11/9/2011
27 Dioscorea alata L. E. Maui, Wailua, near end of Wailua Rd. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H110113 Maui PTBG 11/12/2001
28 Dioscorea alata L. Limahuli Valley; Ridge spine on E side of Valley Growing with Dioscorea bulbifera. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 1800 Kauai BISH 7/2/1986
29 Dioscorea alata L. wailau valley, molokai, territory of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 5563 Oahu US 8/14/1928
30 Dioscorea alata L. halehaku, near kapalaalaea reservoir PRESERVED_SPECIMEN d. r. herbst & s. ishikawa 4092 Maui US 8/27/1974
31 Dioscorea alata L. Halehaku, near Kapalaalaea Reservoir PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D. R.; Ishikawa, S. 4092 Maui US 8/27/1974
32 Dioscorea alata L. wailau valley, molokai, territory of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 8950 YPM 8/11/1928
33 Dioscorea alata L. wailau valley, just mauka of native shacks PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. collector number: 8950 Molokai BISH 8/11/1928
34 Dioscorea alata L. Hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Handy, E.S. s.n. Hawaii BISH 9/3/1931
35 Dioscorea alata L. Lihue Dist.; Puhi Camp just W of Kauai Community College Plants from homesites as camp was razed. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 2001 Kauai BISH 12/5/1986
36 Dioscorea alata L. Kailua; Olomana subdivision, 593 Uluhala St PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Staples, G. 894 Oahu BISH 7/19/1993
37 Dioscorea alata L. Puna; Panau Nui Vine planted near dwelling PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fagerlund, G.O. 1099 Hawaii BISH 8/2/1945
38 Dioscorea alata L. kailua; olomana subdivision, 593 uluhala st PRESERVED_SPECIMEN staples, g.w. collector number: 894 Oahu BISH 7/19/1993
39 Dioscorea alata L. Halawa Valley Archaeological site # 50-0a-B1-75 Isolated plant near early historic house site. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Addison 1 Oahu BISH 7/30/1991
40 Dioscorea alata L. puna; panau nui Common along stream. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fagerlund, g.o. mitchell, a.l. collector number: 1099 Kauai BISH 8/2/1945
41 Dioscorea alata L. wainiha PRESERVED_SPECIMEN handy, e.s. collector number: s.n. Kauai BISH 7/23/1931
42 Dioscorea alata L. east molokai; wailau valley, n coast PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fosberg, f.r. collector number: 9624 Oahu BISH 7/3/1933
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