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Growing wild on our property are two vines in particular that I have
fought with myself regarding their true and common names. Ah,
those infamous interchangeable common names. Ugh!
Cinnamon vine, cinnamon yam, air potato, potato vine, the list
goes on. Spirals to the left, spirals to the right. Bears potatoes,
grows tubers, etc.
The vine on the left side of the house is very mild mannered
and insignificant, no potatoes, only underground tubers. It is a pretty
color, doesn't do much through the season, and dies back. I never see
any tubers or potatoes or seed pods above ground. The image on this
post is the 'well behaved vine' which I am confident (ha) is Cinnamon Vine
The vine on the right side of the house is always out of control, dropping
little bitty potatoes all over, then they sprout. I can easily collect a five gallon
bucket of the little potatoes each year. It is the problem child.
Dioscorea bulbifera = Air Potato? (The nasty one)
Dioscorea oppositifolia = Cinnamon Vine? (The not so nasty one)
Dioscorea villosa = Wild Yam? (Features seed pods)
Would anyone agree with the above, give or take the 'nasty' factor?
I'm not concerned about common names, but I think they are too often
confused with one another. Could someone please assist in helping me
figure out exactly what I'm growing? Yes, I've scoured the Plant Files but
find contradictory information and pictures on each one.
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