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Definition: Dioscorea

Part of Speech Definition
Noun 1. Yams.[Wordnet]
2. A genus of plants.[Websters].

Sources: WordNet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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"Dioscorea" is a common misspelling or typo for: Discover, Discourse, Discreet, Discourage, Discourses, Discordant, Diaspora, Discoed, Diosmose.

Date "Dioscorea" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1856. (references)

Specialty Definition: Dioscorea

Domain Definition
Botanical Three or more species of yams are extensively cultivated in Panama. D.alata L., with winged stems and unlobed leaves; D.trifida L.f., with unwinged stems and lobed leaves; and D.cayenensis Link, with unwinged stems and unlobed leaves. Their large, edible roots look like elongated sweet potatoes. None of the native species are supposed to have edible roots, but they might be judiciously sampled after cooking. The roots are baked, boiled, or ground into flour to make breadstuffs. Three types are marketed in Darien and San Blas: name (D), uagup (Cu), uasup (Cu); nampi morando (D), uari (Cu); and nampi blanco (D), pukua (Cu). Peeled name is soaked in water in Darien and Panama, and the water is then drunk for rheumatism and arthritis. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Common Expressions: Dioscorea

Expressions Definition
Dioscorea alata Grown in Australasia and Polynesia for its large root with fine edible white flesh. Source: Wordnet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Dioscorea batata Hardy Chinese vine naturalized in United States and cultivated as an ornamental climber for its glossy heart-shaped cinnamon-scented leaves and in the tropics for its edible tubers. Source: Wordnet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Dioscorea bulbifera Yam of tropical Africa and Asia cultivated for it large tubers. Source: Wordnet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Dioscorea elephantipes South African vine having a massive rootstock covered with deeply fissured bark. Source: Wordnet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Dioscorea paniculata Having a rhizome formerly dried and used to treat rheumatism or liver disorders. Source: Wordnet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Dioscorea trifida Tropical American yam with small yellow edible tubers. Source: Wordnet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Genus Dioscorea Yams. Source: Wordnet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Expressions: Dioscorea

Expressions Domain Definition
Dioscorea alata Botanical 1: "uhi" (references)
    2: Roots of this and other species are edible, but should be carefully processed, as some are poisonous raw. (references)
Dioscorea bulbifera Botanical 1: Cultivated in Panama, this is one of the easier species to recognize because of its aerial bulbs. These, and the underground tubers, are usually poisonous raw, but may be peeled, sun dried, and then cooked (!). Underground tubers are best dug when the plant is dying back for the dry season. Some species of Dioscorea have a juice that induces itching (!).. (references)
    2: "Bitter yam" "hoi" (references)
Dioscorea trifida Botanical This another of the cultivated yams. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Extended Definition: Dioscorea

Dioscorea

Dioscorea
Dioscorea balcanica
Dioscorea balcanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Dioscoreales
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Genus: Dioscorea
L.
Species

See text

Dioscorea is a genus of over 600 species of flowering plants in the family Dioscoreaceae, native throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. The vast majority of the species are tropical, with only a few species extending into temperate climates. It is named after the ancient Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides.

They are tuberous herbaceous perennial lianas, growing to 2-12 m or more tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, mostly broad heart-shaped. The flowers are individually inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, with six petals; they are mostly dioecious, with separate male and female plants, though a few species are monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same plant. The fruit is a capsule in most species, a soft berry in a few species.

Several species, known as yams, are important agricultural crops in tropical regions, grown for their large tubers. Many of these are toxic when fresh, but can be detoxified and eaten, and are particularly important in parts of Africa, Asia, and Oceania (see yam article).

Selected species

The closely related genus Tamus is included in Dioscorea by some botanists; for Dioscorea communis (L.) Caddick & Wilkin, see Tamus communis .

References

See also

Yams

External links

  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Dioscorea at Wikimedia Commons
  • Information related to Dioscorea from Wikispecies.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Dioscorea". Image Credit.
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Topics by Level of Interest: Dioscorea

Topics sorted by level of Interest Level (1=low, 600=high)     Topics sorted Alphabetically Level (1=low, 600=high)
Dioscorea 15     Dioscorea 15
Dioscorea opposita 11     Dioscorea bulbifera 8
Dioscorea bulbifera 8     Dioscorea elephantipes 5
Dioscorea elephantipes 5     Dioscorea esculenta 3
Dioscorea trifida 5     Dioscorea mexicana 4
Dioscorea mexicana 4     Dioscorea opposita 11
Dioscorea esculenta 3     Dioscorea trifida 5

Source: the editor, created by/for EVE to gauge likely levels of human interest in linguistically triggered topics (compiled across various sources, such as Wikipedia and specialty expression glosses).