Dioscoreaceae

Occurs on the northeastern border of its range. An ornamental and edible plant of specific habitats.

Perennial herbaceous vine with tuberous-thickened vertical roots and a thin, branched, knobby stem climbing shrubs and trees to a height of up to 2 m. Leaves usually alternate, 5–10 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, entire-margined, glabrous, cordate, with an acuminate apex, on long petioles, sometimes bearing small bulbils in the axils. Flowers fleshy, sessile, in simple axillary racemes. Winged seeds are contained in ribbed capsules aggregated in racemes. Flowers in July, fruits in September.

Near hot sulfur springs not far from the seacoast, among tall grasses and shrub thickets, in forest clearings. Rare. Possibly escaped from cultivation.