168 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Dioscorea bulbifera, Linne. (D. sotfva, Linn^ partly.) 



Southern Asia, east as far as Japan, also in the South-Sea-lslands, 

 North- and tropical East-Australia, likewise recorded from tropical 

 Africa. Stem cylindrical, not prickly. The acrid root requires 

 soaking before boiling. The plant has proved hardy in the Southern 

 States of North- America. Starch is very profitably obtainable from 

 the tubers, as they are large. 



Dioscorea divaricata, Blanco.* (D, Batatas, Decaisne.) 



The Chinese Yam. Philippine Islands. The hardiest of all. Not 

 prickly. The root is known to attain a length of 4 feet, with a 

 circumference of 14 inches, and a weight of about 14 Ibs. The inner 

 portion of the tuber is of snowy whiteness, of a flaky consistence and 

 of a delicious flavor ; preferred by many to potatoes, and obtainable 

 in climes too hot for potato-crops. The bulblets from the axils of the 

 leaf-stalks, as in other Dioscoreas, serve as sets for planting, but the 

 tubers from them attain full size only in the second year. The upper 

 end of the tubers offers ready sets, but there are dormant eyes on any 

 pbrtion of the surface of the tubers [Sir Samuel Wilson, General 

 Noble]. First grown in Australia by the author in 1858. A remark- 

 ably hardy species ; its yam-root keeps well [Vihnorin]. Not so 

 easily dug up as those of some other species. 



Dioscorea dodecaneura, Vellozo. 



Southern Brazil. Tubers attain a weight of 3 Ibs., of excellent 

 taste. Starch about 18 per cent. [Peckolt]. 



Dioscorea fasciculata, Roxburgh. 



Continental India. This species is there cultivated to a considerable 

 extent, not only for food, but also to make starch. The tubers are 

 of the size of a large potato, which they resemble in mealiness and 

 flavor, and are highly esteemed [Dr. G. Watt]. 



Dioscorea globosa, Roxburgh. 



India. Roxburgh states this to be the most esteemed yam in 

 Bengal. 



Dioscorea hastifolia, Nees. 



Extra-tropical Western Australia, are far south as 32. It is 

 evidently one of the hardiest of the yams, and on that account deserves 

 particularly to be drawn into culture. The tubers are largely con- 

 sumed by the local aborigines for food. The only plant, on which 

 they bestow any kind of cultivation, crude as it is. Fit for arid 

 situations, but fond of lime. 



