air-potato

Dioscorea bulbifera L.

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance: Dioscorea bulbifera is an herbaceous, twining vine that can grow to lengths exceeding 60 ft. (18 m). It invades open areas in the sub-tropical southeastern United States.
Foliage: The leaves are alternate, 8 in. (20.3 cm) long, broadly-heart shaped with prominent veins that resemble greenbrier leaves. The rounded stems are thin and wiry.
Flowers: The vine rarely flowers.
Fruit: The chief means of reproduction are aerial, potato-like tubers (bulbils) located at the leaf axils.
Ecological Threat: Dioscorea bulbifera can form dense masses of vines that cover and kill native vegetation including trees within a variety of habitats such as forest edges, hammocks, and many disturbed areas. It was introduced from Africa for food and medicinal purposes in the early 1900s. It is a common and widespread food crop throughout most tropical regions of the world.

Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
Florida National Forests Invasive Plant Series - USDA Forest Service
Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Feature(s) Bulbils (aerial tubers) and alternate foliage in September
Fred Nation, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org
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Foliage leaves
Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s) bulbils
Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s)
Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s)
Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s) bulbils in December
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage