Dioscorea sylvatica Eckl.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near summit of Nhandore peak, Mt Gorongosa

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa.

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Synonyms:	Dioscorea brevipes Burtt-Davy Dioscorea marlothii R. Knuth Dioscorea montana (Burch.) Spreng var. lobata Weim. Dioscorea montana (Burch.) Spreng var. sagittata Suess. Dioscorea montana (Burch.) Spreng var. glauca R. Knuth Dioscorea rehmanni Baker Dioscorea sylvatica (Kunth) Eckl. var. sylvatica Dioscorea sylvatica (Kunth) Eckl. var. brevipes (Burtt Davy) Burkill Testudinaria multiflora Marloth Testudinaria paniculata Dummer Testudinaria sylvatica Kunth
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Slender left-twining herb with annual stems growing from a tuber. Leaves alternate, distinctly heart-shaped, often almost appearing 2-lobed at the base, tapering to a long point at the apex. Flowers in lax, pendulous racemes up to 12 cm long, unisexual, creamy white. Fruit a 4-winged capsule, up to 2.8 × 2 cm.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	sylvatica: sylvan, forest-loving
Habitat:	In margins of forest and in bracken or ericoid scrub.
Altitude range:	Up to 1850 m
Flowering time:	Nov - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	MS,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 24 May 2022
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 21. As Dioscorea sylvatica sylvatica Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 82 - 83. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 90. as D. sylvatica var. sylvatica and D. sylvatica var. brevipes Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 514 - 515. (Includes a picture). Wilkin, P. (2009). Dioscoreaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(2) Pages 136 - 137. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Dioscorea sylvatica:

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Flora of Zambia: Dioscorea sylvatica
Flora of Zimbabwe: Dioscorea sylvatica

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Dioscorea sylvatica
African Plant Database: Dioscorea sylvatica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Dioscorea sylvatica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dioscorea sylvatica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Dioscorea sylvatica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Dioscorea sylvatica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dioscorea sylvatica
JSTOR Plant Science: Dioscorea sylvatica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Dioscorea sylvatica
Plants of the World Online: Dioscorea sylvatica
Tropicos: Dioscorea sylvatica
Wikipedia: Dioscorea sylvatica