Plant · GBIF taxon 2754553
wild yam
Dioscorea villosaAlso known as Colic Root, Rheumatism Root, Devil's Bones, Fourleaf Yam
Wild yam climbs over shrubs and understory vegetation in rich eastern woodlands using slender twining stems that coil clockwise. Its heart-shaped leaves feature distinct parallel-curved veins radiating from the base, frequently arranged in distinct whorls of four along the lower stem. In late summer, female vines produce dangling clusters of papery, three-winged seed capsules that dry to a warm golden brown in autumn.
VineNativePerennial
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Defoliating Insects
- Rodents
ThreatsHabitat loss, displacement by invasive exotic vines
HabitatsMoist woodlands, floodplain forests, thickets, streambanks
Life spanPerennial
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDioscoreales
- FamilyDioscoreaceae
- GenusDioscorea
- SpeciesDioscorea villosa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Raw roots contain saponins that cause severe nausea; wild plants have toxic look-alikes, so never ingest.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains dioscin and other saponins that trigger gastrointestinal distress, severe nausea, and vomiting if eaten raw.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by twining stems, heart-shaped leaves with radiating veins, and papery three-winged seed pods.
- What to do
- Enjoy observing and photographing foliage from trails without digging up or consuming wild tubers.
Responsible observation
- Leaf Pattern: Examine lower stem leaf whorls to help confirm identification.
- Fruit Identification: Look for unique papery, three-winged seed pods hanging from female plants in late summer.
- Woodland Search: Scan damp forest edges, thickets, and streambanks throughout eastern North America.
Co-occurring Vine (c) botanygirl, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by botanygirl · cc-by
Habitat Companion СССР / CC BY-SA 2.5 ca · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableInvasive Relative 
Invasive Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Daniel Atha · cc0
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