air-potato: Dioscorea bulbifera (Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae) - Georgia Invasive Species

air-potato	USDA PLANTS Symbol: DIBU U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Vine
Dioscorea bulbifera L.
Synonym(s): air potato, air potato, bitter yam, air-potato, air yam
Air potato is an herbaceous, twining vine that can grow to lengths exceeding 60 ft. (18 m). It invades open areas in the sub-tropical southeastern United States. The leaves are alternate, 8 in. (20.3 cm) long, broadly-heart shaped with prominent veins that resemble greenbrier leaves. The rounded stems are thin and wiry. The chief means of reproduction are aerial, potato-like tubers (bulbils) located at the leaf axils. The vine rarely flowers. Air potato can form dense masses of vines that cover and kill native vegetation including trees within a variety of habitats such as forest edges, hammocks, and many disturbed areas. It was introduced from Africa for food and medicinal purposes in the early 1900s. Air potato is a common and widespread food crop throughout most tropical regions of the world.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
Florida National Forests Invasive Plant Series - USDA Forest Service
Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - University of Florida

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Foliage; in July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s); USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Feature(s); Air bulbils in December James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Feature(s); bulbils Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); in December James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s); bulbils in December James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

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