Air Potato

Scientific name: Dioscorea bulbifera L.

Common names: Air potato, Air potato vine, air yam, bitter yam

Native To: Asia and Africa

Date of U.S. Introduction: First observed in the U.S. in Alabama in the 1770s; first introduced to Florida in 1905

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Originally cultivated as a possible food crop and ornamental in the 1700s

Impact: Forms dense vines that smother native plants and trees up to 60 feet high

Current U.S. Distribution:

• PLANTS Database Map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (includes state, county and point distribution maps)

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
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

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

Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
Miami-Dade County (Florida). Environmental Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

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

Dioscorea bulbifera (herb, vine, climber) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

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