PN-6367 



Figure 1. — Leaf of Z). hispida(x 0.5). 



the base, and varying from pubescent to almost glabrous. The pubes- 

 cence is either off-white or reddish brown. The leaves are divided into 

 three to five leaflets, rather obovate but variable in shape. Male flowers 

 are produced on racemes gathered in groups on a large lateral flowering 

 branch. Female flowering branches hang downward, one to three at 

 each intern ode, each about 25 centimeters long. Small, nonedible aerial 

 tubers are usually produced in large numbers. 



D. hispida is also divided into botanical varieties (var. mollissiyria, 

 hispida, and scaphoides) based on details of the capsule and pubescence. 

 The tubers, while globose in general, are lobed, sometimes profoundly, 

 making this a difficult tuber to peel (fig. 5). The tubers are usually 

 produced near the surface of the soil and are extremely poisonous. The 

 flesh is colored white to light yellow, and the sap is yellowish. The stem 

 is up to 9 millimeters in diameter, usually prickly, and green to light 

 yellow in color. It varies from glabrous to pubescent. The pubescence is 

 white to light brown. Three leaflets are produced, rarely five, with small 

 prickles on the underside of the main vein. The racemes of male flowers 



9 



