Scientific Name: Dioscorea transversa
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Pronunciation:dy-oss-cor-REE-AH trans-VERSE-ah
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Common Name:Native Yam
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Derivation:Dioscorea: Dioscorides Gr. physician and herbalist 1st. century.||transversa:
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Type:
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Family:DIOSCORIACEAE
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Flowers:White, green, yellowish. Small, strongly-scented with males and females on different plants.
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Fruit:3-lobed. Shiny pink-brown, or white. Become dry papery.
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Vegetation Type:Rainforest
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Species List:Kennilworth Fig Tree Walk, Bush food, FI Podberscek, Wooroi Day Use Area Tracks, NNP service road, Wooroi Palm Grove, BSDoonan, Tewantin Forest Gyndier, Fraser Island, Stratford Park, Boreen Point, NNP Tanglewood NNP Palm Grove Dandaloo Upper Yandina Creek, Heritage Park
Cultural Notes
TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:
Bush food. Small tuberous roots edible when raw (unlike other Dioscorea spp.) taste like crisp slimy potatoes. Root cooked in ashes and eaten.
Identification Notes
Leaves arrow or heart-shaped, often red-backed when young. Large underground tuberous rhizome.||
Associated Fauna
Butterfly host plant: Black and white flat.
Landscaping Notes
Wiry climber grows rapidly. Needs water and nutrients. Sun or shade. Indoor pot plant potential.||