Dioscorea tokoro

Physical Characteristics

Dioscorea tokoro is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER. It is in flower from September to October. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required).. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Edible Uses: Tuber - cooked[174, 177]. It should be soaked or boiled in lye before use since it is said to be poisonous raw[174].

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic Antiseptic Antitussive Contraceptive Miscellany Resolvent The roots are antirheumatic, antiseptic, antitussive and contraceptive. They are also used for desensitization. A decoction of the root is used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and prostatitis. It is also a resolvent for blood clots. The roots of most, if not all, members of this genus, contains diosgenin. This is widely used in modern medicine in order to manufacture progesterone and other steroid drugs. These are used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the genitary organs as well as in a host of other diseases such as asthma and arthritis.

Known Hazards

Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves[174]. The root of this species is said to be poisonous raw.