Habitat: Central America, South Africa.
Description: monocotyledonous plants similar to Liliaceae; They have a globular or elongated rhizome from which thin, climbing stems arise, bearing alternate leaves. The flowers are small and monosexual and male and female flowers are borne on different plants (dioecism). The caudex is covered in corky, polygonal plates. The fruit is a berry or capsule.
Soil: basic mix.
Location: grow in full sun but keep the caudex in the shade.
Temperature: they require a minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F).
Water: abundant during the growing season; keep the soil slightly moist the rest of the year.
Cultivation tips: raise from seed. After one year from sowing the plant develops a caudex nearly 1 cm (0.4 in) long. To stimulate the formation of a large caudex grow the plant in a large pot or plant outdoors in very mild climates.
Main genera of Dioscoreaceae: Dioscorea syn. Testudinaria.