 Scientific name:
Dioscorea bulbifera L.
Common
names:
Air potato, Air potato vine,
air yam, bitter yam |
 |
Native To: Asia and Africa (Overholt et al. 2003)
Date of U.S. Introduction:
First observed in the U.S. in Alabama in the 1770s; first introduced
to Florida in 1905 (Gucker 2009)
Images: Invasive.org and Google
Video:
University of Florida Lee County Extension - Air Potato (or click Play button below)
Means of Introduction: Originally
cultivated as a possible food crop and ornamental in the 1800s (Miller et al. 2010)
Impact: Forms dense vines
that smother native plants and trees (Overholt et al. 2008)
Current U.S. Distribution:
U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States map
Management Plans: Plants
Selected Internet Resources:
|
|
Federal Government
Dioscorea
bulbifera L.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy
Dioscorea
bulbifera Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural
Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)
Dioscorea
bulbifera - Germplasm Resources Information Network
(GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources
Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects
Air Potato
- USFS Florida
National Forests Invasive Plant Species Series
USDA. FS. Southern Region.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Controls
Climbing Yams - A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests
USDA. FS. Southern Research Station.; Bugwood
Wiki.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle;
Distribution; Dispersion; Controls
Plant Profile for Dioscorea
bulbifera - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant
Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects
Dioscorea bulbifera -
Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory
Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts;
Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution
|
|
University/Academic
Dioscorea bulbifera L.
- Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's
Natural Areas (PDF | 75 KB)
University of Florida.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life
Cycle; Distribution
Air
Potato in Florida (PDF | 113 KB)
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution;
Controls; Legal Aspects
Natural
Area Weeds: Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
University of Florida. IFAS. Center for
Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History;
Impacts; Controls; Legal Aspects
Dioscorea bulbifera
University of Florida. IFAS. Center for
Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls;
Legal Aspects
Air
Potato
University of Florida. IFAS Extension.
Solutions for Your Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Dispersion;
Controls; Legal Aspects
Air-potato - Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts
|
|
Organizations
Air
Yam
Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle;
Distribution
Air
Potato Management Plan: Recommendations from the Air Potato
Task Force (Apr 2008; PDF | 1.53 MB)
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts;
Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls
Meet the Plants: Dioscorea
bulbifera
National Tropical Botanical Garden.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution
Air
Potatoes Take Over
Nature Conservancy.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls
Dioscorea
bulbifera
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution
Dioscorea
bulbifera
TexasInvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts;
Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls
|
|
Citations
Gucker, Corey L. 2009. Dioscorea spp. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
Miller, J.H., E.B, Chambliss, and N.J. Loewenstein. 2010. Climbing Yams (PDF | 827 KB) In: A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests. General Technical Report SRS-119. Asheville, NC. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 126 p.
Overholt, W. A., C. Hughes, C. Wallace and E. C. Morgan. 2003. Origin of air potato identified (PDF | 99 KB) Wildlands Weeds 7:9.
Overholt, W.A., K. Langeland, E.C. Morgan, J. Moll and K. Gioeli. 2008. Air Potato in Florida (PDF | 113 KB) University of Florida. IFAS Extension Service. Integrated Plant Management.
|
