Description
Dioscorea guianensis (also called Guiana yam, among many other common names) is a species of flowering plant in the family Dioscoreaceae. It is native to South America, where it is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It typically grows in moist, shaded areas, such as tropical and subtropical moist montane forests.
Uses & Benefits
Dioscorea guianensis is used as a food source and for its medicinal properties. It is also used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, stomach pain, and skin diseases. It is also used as an ornamental plant in gardens.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flowers of Dioscorea guianensis are small, greenish-yellow and have six petals. The seeds are small, round and black. The seedlings are small and have a single cotyledon.
Cultivation and Propagation
Dioscorea guianensis can be propagated by seed or division. Seeds should be sown in spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Division in spring or autumn. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Where to Find Dioscorea guianensis
Dioscorea guianensis is native to tropical Asia and can be found in India, China, and Southeast Asia.