Common Name:

General Information

Dioscorea zingiberensis is a perennial climbing plant growing from a horizontal, spreading rhizome that is sometimes irregularly branched and around 10 - 15mm thick; it produces a number of annual twining stems that can be 5 - 10 metres long, the stems twining to the left[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is a major source of the medicinal compound diosgenin, much used in the pharmaceutical industry[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - central and southern China, Vietnam

Habitat

Mixed forests; at elevations from 100 - 1,800 metres[]. Along the banks of larger rivers in open forest; at elevations around 900 - 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is usually dioecious, though monoecious forms are known. Both male and female forms of dioecious plants will need to be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The rhizome is an important traditional medicine[], used as a cooling medicine[].
The tuber is collected near the end of the growing season. when the plant begins to wither. It is well washed and then dried in the sun or in ovens[]

The rhizome contains around 2 - 2.5% of diosgenin. It is an extremely important, commercial source of this medicinal compound, which is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for the synthesis of steroidal drugs such as sex hormones. anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. contraceptive drugs and anabolic steroids[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring to mid spring in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse and only just cover. It germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 20°c[]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring as the plant comes into new growth.
Basal stem cuttings in the summer[].
Division in the dormant season, never when in growth[]. The plant will often produce a number of shoots, the top 5 - 10 cm of the root below each shoot can be potted up to form a new plant whilst the lower part of the root can possibly be eaten[].
Tubercles (baby tubers) are formed in the leaf axils. These are harvested in late summer and early autumn when about the size of a pea and coming away easily from the plant. They should be potted up immediately in individual pots in a greenhouse or cold frame. Plant out in early summer when in active growth[].