Dioscorea composita

 

Barbasco

Species	Dioscorea composita
Category	tuber
Growing area	tropics/subtropics
Range	North America
Taxonomy	Angiosperms/Monocots/Dioscoreales/Dioscoreaceae

A perennial climbing plant of the moist tropics and subtropics in central and north America cultivated for its high diosgenin content.

Uses

• Source of diosgenin

Cultivation

It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15-38°C. It can be killed by temperatures of 9°C or lower. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 2,100mm. Prefers a position in full sun, tolerating light shade. Succeeds in a light to medium soil of moderate fertility. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 5.8 - 7.3.Tubers take 4 - 5 years to reach their maximum size.

See Also

• dioscorea composita
  courtesy Useful Tropical Plants.
• Ddioscorea mexicana