Dioscoreaceae

4 gen., warm temp. and trop.

Dioscorea L.

5 species in Aust. (2 endemic, 1 naturalized); Qld, NSW, NT, WA

Dioscorea transversa R.Br.

Glabrous twiner often several metres long, with underground tubers. Leaves alternate or subopposite, hastate or ovate-cordate, acuminate, with 5–7 prominent longitudinal veins, 6–10 cm long. Male flowers in interrupted spikes 3–5 cm long; the spikes clustered in axillary panicles. Female flowers in simple interrupted racemes 5–10 cm long. Perianth segments minute. Stamens 6. Ovary 3-locular, with 2 ovules per loculus, inferior. Style 2-lobed. Fruit a 3-angled capsule, 2 cm long, 3 cm wide. Coast. RF. Fl. spring– summer. Native Yam