CIII. DIOSCOREACEiE 
519 
3. Dioscorea glabra, Boxb . ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 294. Glabrous. 
Leaves usually opposite, oblong-ovate, 3-81-4 x^ in., deeply cor- 
date, tip prolonged into a narrow, tail-like point. Mowers in 
spikes. Perianth -segments ovate. Male spikes 1-1J in., numer- 
ous, clustered, spreading : flowers globose, single or in small 
clusters; stamens all anther-bearing. Female spikes 6-8 in., 
usually solitary. Capsule 1 in., wings broadly rounded ; seeds 
winged all round. 
Simla, below 5000 ft., Fifth waterfall ; August. — Subtropical Himalaya, up 
to 5000 ft., and southwards over the plains.— Deccan. — Burma, Malay Peninsula. 
Fig. 174. Dioscorea kumaonensis- 
4. Dioscorea sativa, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 295. Glabrous ; 
stems bearing numerous bulbils. Leaves usually alternate, broadly 
ovate-cordate, about 4x3 in., sometimes larger, the tip prolonged 
into a narrow, tail-like point. Flowers in drooping, clustered spikes. 
Perianth-segments linear. Male spikes 3-6 in. : flowers rather 
crowded ; stamens much shorter than the perianth, all anther- 
bearing. Female spikes 4-10 in. Capsule f in. ; seeds winged at 
th-e base. 
Simla, below 5000 ft. ; July, August. — Cultivated throughout N. India and 
in various other countries. 
