''Dioscorea spicata'' is a

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Dioscoreaceae.

Description

Taxonomy

First described by

Albrecht Wilhelm Roth Albrecht Wilhelm Roth (6 January 1757 – 16 October 1834) was a physician and botanist born in Dötlingen, Germany. He studied medicine at the Universities of Halle and Erlangen, where he received his doctorate in 1778. After graduation, he pra ...

in 1821.Roth A.W. Novae Plantarum Species praesertim Indiae Orientalis (Nov. Pl. Sp.) 371 1821.
/ref> It is placed in Section Enantiophyllum.

Distribution

Indian subcontinent (see map in eMonocot).

Uses

The tubers are use as a food source.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dioscorea spicata spicata