A Chinese yam from Wesley in SC

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This vine has heart shaped leaves. I have only seen this at Connestee Park (conesteepark.com) as an udergrowth plant. The young leaves are almost golden. It is very prolific in this one area.

 

Wesley,

this is a very invasive plant, the Chinese Yam, Dioscorea oppositifolia – aka Dioscorea batatas.  It is introduced and does not behave as nicely as our native species of Dioscorea.  Some states declare it to be a noxious weed, I’m afraid.  There are more details about the plant here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioscorea_opposita   It is also called the Air potato. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=diop  http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/diuba.htm

It does have its uses, as a google search will tell you.

I hope this helps!

Sincerely,

Steve Hill (Ph.D.) SCNPS

 

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