Dioscorea alata

Common Name: winged yam

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Common Synonyms: Dioscorea atropurpurea, D. purpurea, D. sativa

USDA Hardiness Zone: 8a-10b

Growth Habit: Forb/Herb, Vine

Origin: Southeast Asia

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: Introduced to the Americas in the 1500s but is a recent introduction to Florida (1900s)

IFAS Assessment:

• North: PROHIBITED
• Central: PROHIBITED
• South: PROHIBITED

Description

Aggressive twining vine from a large underground tuber. Stems can be greater than 10 m in length. Internodes along the stem are square shaped with red-purple wings. Leaves have long petioles and are oppposite, although often leaves fall off leaving single leaves visible. Leaves are 20 cm or longer, heart shaped, narrow, with angular basal lobes. Dioceous species with male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are inconspicuous. Male flowers in panicles up to 30 cm long, while female flowers grow in smaller spikes. Fruit is a 3 parted capsule with winged seeds. Bulbils (aerial tubers) form in leaf axils and are elongate, to 10 cm long and 3 cm wide. They are rough and bumpy in texture.

Habitat

Disturbed sites

Comments

Particularly devastating to coastal hammocks in south Florida. Has an 8-10 month growing season and experiences dormancy for 3-4 months.

Control Methods

• Manual: Mechanical: Cut vines that are high in trees, cut bulbils and remove from site. Dig up underground tubers if possible.
• Chemical: Foliar (1-2% glyphosate [IFAS]), cut stems (10% triclopyr ester [IFAS] or undiluted triclopyr amine [UGA]).
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Langeland, K.A., J.A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G.E. MacDonald, and R.K. Stocker. 2011. Integrated management of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida. EDIS publication SP 242. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2018. Dioscorea alata. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/dioscorea-alata/. Accessed on June 11, 2018.

IFAS, UF. 2015. Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. Dioscorea alata. https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/Dioscorea-alata/ Accessed June 11, 2018.