Practical
Plants

Dioscorea villosa

Wild Yam

a perennial woody member of the Dioscorea genus in the family Dioscoreaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves[3]. Use of the fresh plant can cause vomiting and other side effects[8].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tuber - cooked[5]. Some caution should be exercised with this plant. See 'Medicinal Uses' for more information.

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wild yam roots, and the roots of many other members of the genus, contains diosgenin[8]. This is widely used in modern medicine in order to manufacture progesterone and other steroid drugs. These are used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the genitary organs as well as in a host of other diseases such as asthma and arthritis[8][12]. The roots are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, cholagogue, diaphoretic and vasodilator[2][11]. They are also a visceral relaxant[2]. This plant affords one of the best and fastest cures for bilious colic, it is especially helpful in treating the nausea of pregnant women[15] and has been used to ease the pain of childbirth[13]. It is also taken internally in the treatment of arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, gall bladder complaints, painful menstruation etc[11]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[11]. The root should not be stored for longer than 1 year, since it is likely to lose its medicinal virtues[15]. Caution is advised in the use of the this plant, when taken fresh it can cause vomiting and other side effects[8]. The root, harvested in September, is used to make a homeopathic remedy[9]. Its main use is in the treatment of infant colic[9].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Vasodilator

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - New England to Minnesota and Ontario, south to Virginia and Texas.
Habitat
Wet woods and swamps, thickets and hedges[16][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March to April in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse and only just cover. It germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 20°c[4]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring as the plant comes into new growth. Basal stem cuttings in the summer[14]. Division in the dormant season, never when in growth[1]. The plant will often produce a number of shoots, the top 5 - 10 cm of the root below each shoot can be potted up to form a new plant whilst the lower part of the root can possibly be eaten[K]. Tubercles (baby tubers) are formed in the leaf axils. These are harvested in late summer and early autumn when about the size of a pea and coming away easily from the plant. They should be potted up immediately in individual pots in a greenhouse or cold frame. Plant out in early summer when in active growth[K].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, succeeding in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade[6]. Prefers a rich light soil[1]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[11]. Plants produce tubercles (small tubers that are formed in the leaf axils of the stems), and can be propagated by this means[K]. A climbing plant that supports itself by twining around the branches of other plants[7]. This is a polymorphic species, some botanists dividing it up into several species[10]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  7. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  8. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2

  10. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  14. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  15. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  16. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

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