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''Dioscorea bulbifera'', the air potato, is a species of true yam in the yam family, Dioscoreaceae. It is known as ''varahi'' in Sanskrit, ''kaachil'' in Malayalam and ''dukkar kand'' in Marathi. It is native to Africa, southern Asia (India, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, etc.) and northern Australia.〔(Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families )〕 It is widely cultivated and has escaped to become naturalized in many regions (Latin America, the West Indies, the southeastern United States, and various oceanic islands).〔 ==Description== ''Dioscorea bulbifera'' is a perennial vine with broad leaves and two types of storage organs. The plant forms bulbils in the leaf axils of the twining stems, and tubers beneath the ground. These tubers are like small, oblong potatoes. Some varieties are edible and cultivated as a food crop, especially in West Africa. The tubers of edible varieties often have a bitter taste, which can be removed by boiling. They can then be prepared in the same way as other yams, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The air potato is one of the most widely-consumed yam species. It can grow up to 150 feet tall.〔(Flora of China, Vol. 24 Page 287, 黄独 huang du, ''Dioscorea bulbifera'' Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1033. 1753. )〕 Air potato can grow extremely quickly, roughly 8 inches per day, and eventually reach over 60 feet long. It typically climbs to the tops of trees and has a tendency to take over native plants. New plants develop from bulbils that form on the plant, and these bulbils serve as a means of dispersal. The aerial stems of air potato die back in winter, but resprouting occurs from bulbils and underground tubers. The primary means of spread and reproduction are via bulbils. The smallest bulbils make control of air potato difficult due to their ability to sprout at a very small stage. The vine produces small white flowers, however these are rarely seen when it grows in Florida. The fruits are capsules.〔(Flora of North America, ''Dioscorea bulbifera'' Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1033. 1753. )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dioscorea bulbifera」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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