DIOSCOREA BATATAS

This member of the Dioscoreaceae family was described by Joseph Decaisne in 1854. Found originates from China, but have been spread around the world as a crop. The long caudex will grow well in a well-drained soil, given some water and lots of sun. It can get up to 60 cm in diameter, the vines can reach six meters. The flowers are white-yellow-greenish. The leaves are close to D. mexicana, but the caudex are much longer and it get these "air-bulbs". Dioscorea is named after Pedianos Dioscorides, a Greek physician if the 1st century A.D. The species name for the 'air-potatoes'. It can stand temperatures down to -18 C. And more fresh from Southeasternflora.com.