Dioscorea macrostachya Benth.

국표에 없다.

Dioscorea macrostachya, commonly known as the Chinese yam or cinnamon vine, is a perennial climbing plant that belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family. It is native to East Asia, particularly China and Japan. This plant is highly valued for its culinary and medicinal uses.

The Chinese yam features heart-shaped leaves that are dark green and glossy, providing an attractive display on trellises or fences. Its vines can reach impressive lengths, offering a decorative element to any garden landscape. Additionally, the plant produces clusters of small, cream-colored flowers in late summer to early fall, emitting a pleasant and subtle fragrance.

One of the main appeals of Dioscorea macrostachya lies in its edible tubers, which have a slightly sweet and nutty taste. These tubers can be prepared in various ways, including boiling, roasting, or sautéing, and are often used in stir-fries, soups, or desserts. They are nutritious, containing essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.

Aside from its culinary attributes, Dioscorea macrostachya also possesses medicinal properties. Its tubers are believed to have beneficial effects on digestion, blood circulation, and immune system function. Furthermore, some traditional practices utilize the plant’s tubers as an herbal remedy for respiratory ailments, digestive disorders, and fatigue.

Overall, Dioscorea macrostachya is an aesthetically appealing and versatile plant that offers both decorative value and a range of culinary and medicinal benefits. Its lovely leaves, fragrant flowers, and delicious tubers make it an excellent addition to any garden or kitchen.

Dioscorea macrostachya (Chinese yam) - position, watering, fertilization, pruning (plantedia.com)

 

The caudex which is the thickened and enlarged base of the stem is what gives this plant an extraordinary visual appeal.  Part of the caudex grows above-ground exposing a hardened outer layer that resembles a tortoise shell .  As the caudex expands, the hardened layer breaks into almost regular polygonal plates that becomes protuberant with age leaving deep furrow in between (Fig. 1).  

Fig. 2  Flowers and leaves on long vines

 

The pictures here are images of the specimen Dioscorea macrostachya at the Conservatory of  Flowers in San Francisco.  From the appearance of the stem and leaves, this perennial plant looks like and ordinary vine (Fig. 2).  Capable of growing up to 36 feet in a year, this plant is a vigorous grower.   Unless you take the time to  guide your eyes to follow where the vine originates, it would be so hard to imagine that the caudex below (Fig. 3) is related to the far-reaching vine with the heart-shaped leaves.  

 

The plant  

Fig. 3    Branches arising from the caudex.

 

 

As a normal sequence of events, every year, a new set of branches emerge from the apical end of the caudex and dies back at the end of the season depending on growing conditions.  In the tropical forest where this plant would be found in nature, the caudex would be sitting in the shade where it prefers to be with lots of water.   Sunlight requirement for this plant is relatively moderate.  The new vine would then have to reach up above the other plant canopies to access to direct sunlight.  Thus a rapid growth of the vine is necessary for existence.  The rate of growth of the caudex is a function of the photosynthetic rate on the foliage.  

 

Fig. 4      The Caudex: Tortoise-like

Dioscorea macrostachya is grown as an ornamental plant as it adds oddity to any plant collection.  

Mastering Horticulture: Dioscorea macrostachya

https://youtu.be/8avEAACqeDQ?t=2373