Distribution Map

Dioscorea cotinifolia

   
Wild Yam
ingwevu
Khanya
lunyawo lwendlovu
Lunyawolwendlovu
lunyawo-lwendlovu
sikhundla
umkhanya

Dioscoreaceae   

As at April 2024, 16 herbarium specimens, 4 photo records, 84 visual observations

South African Red List status: LC
Global Distribution: Southern Africa only
Found within protected areas: Mlawula Mantenga
Flora Protection Act: Schedule B
Medicinal

Description (Compton's Flora of Swaziland*):
Dioscorea cotinifolia - Vigorous, slender, twining with wiry stem, hairless throughout. Leaves simple, stalks very slender c 15 mm long; blade c 5 cm long X 5 cm wide, widest near base, lower edges spreading at right angles to stalk, not heart-shaped, narrowing rapidly to long narrow point, all main veins springing from junction of blade and stalk. Flowers white in slender wavy spikes of variable length arising in small tufts from leaf axils. Male flowers numerous, female flowers few. Fruit a three-winged papery capsule, broadest near top, c 3 cm long x 15 mm wide; seeds with long membranous wing.

* Where species names have changed, these have been matched according to herbarium specimens quoted in this publication.

Notes:
Global distribution information: southern Africa includes southern Mozambique and southern Zimbabwe.
Restricted distribution has been based on an estimated extent of occurence of less than 100 000 km2 and/or an estimated area of occupancy of 100 km2, based on geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist data.