Dioscorea floridana
| Dioscorea floridana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by Shirley Denton (Copyrighted, use by photographer’s permission only), Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Liliopsida – Monocotyledons |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Dioscoreaceae |
| Genus: | Dioscorea |
| Species: | D. floridana |
| Binomial name | |
| Dioscorea floridana Bartlett | |
| |
| Natural range of Dioscorea floridana from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: Florida yam
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Synonym: Dioscorea villosa L. var. floridana (Bartlett) H.E. Ahles
Description
A description of Dioscorea floridana is provided in The Flora of North America. Dioscorea floridana is a perennial herbaceous vine. The University of Florida has provided an accessible online PDF on how to differentiate the several species of yam in Florida. See link provided here: [Air Potato PDF] [1] D. floridana species is distinguished by having the two or three staminate inflorescences when compared to D. quaternata and D. villosa.[2]
Distribution
According to the USDA NRCS website, Dioscorea floridana's distribution occurs in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. [3] Due to its limited range, it is considered vulnerable on the Global Status. [4]
Ecology
Habitat
Generally, D. floridana can be found in dry to mesic forests as well as swampy forests.[5] It has been observed to occur in wet, sandy areas like pond edges, dry slopes, and woodland patches.[6]
Associated species: Carya glabra, C. tomentosa, Pinus palustris, Cornus florida, Collinsonia anisata, Vaccinium stamineum var. stamineum, Vaccinium sp., Quercus falcata, Quercus pumila, Morella cerifera, Rubus cuneifolius, Viburnum rufidulum, and Erianthus sp.[6]
Phenology
This species flowers from June to July as well as from August to November.[5] D. floridana has been observed flowering in March.[7]
Conservation and management
While it is not listed for any conservation population concerns, D. floridana has such a limited native range that leads it to be of conservational interest.[8]
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ [Air Potato PDF] Accessed: April 22, 2016.
- ↑ Ihsan A. AL-Shehbaz and Bernice G. Schubert (1810) The Discoreaceae in the Southeastern United States. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 70(1) 57.59
- ↑ [USDA NRCS Plant Database] Access: April 22, 2016.
- ↑ [Nature Serve] Accessed: April 22, 2016.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Robert K. Godfrey and Lisa Keppner. States and Counties: Florida: Washington. Georgia: Thomas.
- ↑ Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 8 DEC 2016
- ↑ USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 3 May 2019). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
