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Air-potato,
also called potato-yam, air-yam, Chinese- potato or devil=s-potato is a member of the family, Dioscoreaceae
(yams). They were introduced from Africa in the early 1900's as an edible
landscape plant. The tubers may be cultivated as a starchy food source,
but are generally bitter when grown wild. The
vines are extremely aggressive and grow into dense masses that quickly
out-compete native vegetation. They often climb high into the canopy and
over-top even the tallest trees. The prolific aerial tubers help the plant
to spread quickly. Even though the vines and aerial tubers are deciduous
and lie dormant for the winter months, the underground tubers may still
sprout and continue the spread of the plants year-round. These vines are
often seen climbing into the foliage along forest edges or even in urban
settings. They pose a serious threat to forested habitats.
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Chemical
compounds are extracted from the plants to produce steroids and birth
control pills. West African tribes grow air-yams as an important food
plant. The tubers, which are said to have a potato-like flavor, are boiled
twice before eating, to remove any toxins and bitterness. Air-potato
is similar to the native species, wild yam (Dioscorea floridana),
which has shorter leaf blades and no aerial tubers. It also resembles
winged yam (Dioscorea alata), which has opposite leaves and winged
stems. Air-potato
is widely distributed throughout Central and South America and grows in
much of peninsular Florida. It is currently found in 23 counties in
Florida and is still spreading.
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