Dioscoreaceae belongs to the order Dioscoreales. It is also known as Yam family.
The Dioscoreaceae is a group of mostly tropical and subtropical flowering plants that includes herbaceous or woody vines and a few shrubs. These plants are best known for their underground tubers or rhizomes, which store nutrients and help them survive dry seasons. Their leaves are often heart-shaped with net-like veins, and their small, usually unisexual flowers grow in clusters along the stems. The fruits are typically winged capsules or berries.
The most famous members of this family belong to the genus Dioscorea which includes many species of yams cultivated for their edible tubers (for example Dioscorea alata). These yams are important staple foods in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Some species are also used in traditional medicine or as sources of natural compounds for pharmaceuticals.
Total genera found for Dioscoreaceae: 1
- 1) Dioscorea
Total plants found for Dioscoreaceae: 5
- 1) Air potato
- 2) Chinese yam
- 3) Purple yam
- 4) White yam
- 5) Yam