Dioscorea villosa Linnaeus. Section: Macropoda. Wild Yam. Phen: Apr-Jun; Sep-Nov. Hab: Moist forests and woodlands. Dist: NJ, NY, s. ON, WI, MN, and IA south to n. FL and TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Various specific and infraspecific taxa are here combined. Ward (1977c) stated that "a recent study at Duke University by Shu-fun Au, unfinished due to the death of its author, tentatively recognized D. hirticaulis and D. floridana but combined all other entities without distinction under D. villosa". Further study is needed. Al-Shehbaz & Schubert (1989) indicate that the lectotype of D. villosa has pubescent stems; nomenclatural changes would apparently be needed if varietal status of the two named varieties of D. villosa proves warranted.

Synonymy: = Ar, ETx1, FNA26, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Tn, Va, WH3; = Dioscorea villosa L.; > Dioscorea glauca Muhl. ex Bartlett – S; > Dioscorea hirticaulis Bartlett – F, G, S, Ward (1977c); > Dioscorea quaternata – C, F, G, K1, Mo1, NcTx, Pa, S, Tx, Al-Shehbaz & Schubert (1989), Ward (1977c); > Dioscorea quaternata var. glauca (Muhl.) Fernald – Il, Tat; > Dioscorea quaternata var. quaternata – Il; < Dioscorea villosa L. – S13; > Dioscorea villosa L. – F, G, Il, K1, Mo1, NcTx, Pa, S, Tat, Tx, W, Ward (1977c); > Dioscorea villosa L. var. hirticaulis (Bartlett) H.E.Ahles – C, RAB, Al-Shehbaz & Schubert (1989); > Dioscorea villosa L. var. villosa – C, RAB

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
• Great Plains: FAC
• Midwest: FAC
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily: 5