About Dioscorea cirrhosa Lour.
Dioscorea cirrhosa Lour. is a right-twining vine that grows annually from a tuberous rhizome. Its stems can grow as long as 10 meters. This species has heart-shaped leaves and is dioecious, which means male and female flowers grow on separate individual plants. This species is native to parts of Indo-China, specifically northeastern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It is also native to southeastern China, including Guangxi, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan. It usually grows in the understories of subtropical forests, where it climbs over other vegetation to reach sunlight. Historically, Dioscorea cirrhosa has been used as a source of dye. The tuber of this plant was once traded internationally for its dyeing properties, which made it an important economic resource in some regions.
