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Dioscorea bulbifera
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Family:
DIOSCOREACEAE
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Citation: Dioscorea bulbifera L., Sp. Pl. 1033. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 296. 1892; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1511(1055). 1928(1055); Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 291. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 411. 1984; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 385. 1985; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 473. 1988; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 397. 1989; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 807. 1990; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 507. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 479. 1994; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 468. 1996; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 342. 1997; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 723. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 349. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 504. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 692. 2009.
Helmia bulbifera (L.) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 5: 435. 1850.
Dioscorea bulbifera L. var. vera Prain & Burkill, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10:26.1914; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1511 (1055). 1928; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 454. 1998.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Alanthal, Kattukachil, Nukappa, Pannikizhangu
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Air potato, Bulb bearing yam, Potato yam
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Description:
Vines with tuberous root stocks; Stem terete, twining to left. Leaves 9-25 x 8-23 cm, ovate-suborbicular, base deeply cordate, apex acuminate to shortly caudate, membranous, glabrous, basally 9-11-ribbed; petiole to 20 cm long. Bulbils frequent in leaf axils and in inflorescence. Male flowers in slender, axillary panicled spikes, pendulous, to 18 cm long; bracteoles ovate, acute. Perianth light green; lobes 6, biseriate, c. 2.5 mm long, linear-oblong. Stamens 6 free. Female spikes 1-3 together; staminodes 3; ovary triquetrous, 3-locular, ovules 2-per locule; styles 3; stigma 2-fid, reflexed. Capsules 1.5-2.3 x 1-1.5 cm, oblong, 3-winged.
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Habit:
Climber
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Flowering & Fruiting:
September-October
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Moist deciduous forests, also in the plains
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Distribution:
Paleotropics
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Green
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Monocotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
Yes
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Peechi, Kattalappara, Pezha, Adoor, Pathenthode, Taliparamba, Tolpetty, Neriamangalam to Velvara, Chindaki forest, Beemanadi, Vadapuram, Nedumkayam, Kanjirakadavu
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