Dioscorea communis 漿果薯蕷、黑瀉根、黑眼根、黑旋花

Common name: Black Bryony
Scientific name: Dioscorea communis 漿果薯蕷、黑瀉根、黑眼根、黑旋花
Genus:  Dioscorea 薯蕷屬
Family: Dioscoreaceae 薯蕷科, yam family

Origin: native

Date:  25th May

The following photos are male plants:

119 Climbing, dioecious (male plant above) perennial with large, subterranean tuber (could not be seen above). Stems can reach up to 20m or more.

121 Younger and smaller leaves towards the tip of the stem.

113 The tip of the stem with very young, small leaves.

111 The stem.

111_1 Stem enlarged to show the ridges.

105 Leaf 3-15 x 2-10cm, dark glossy green, ovate, base cordate.

112 Underside of the leaf.

110 Young leaf with flower behind.

115 Twigs with flowers.

109 Stem gives rise to petiole and flowers.

109_1 Photo enlarged above to show a pair of stipules (bracts?) on the axil of flower and leaves. Note the axillary inflorescence.

104 Lax, spike-like raceme, to 15cm.

100_1 Male flower buds and open flower (top left one) showing the outer surfaces of the tepals, with brown stripes in the middle.

097_1 Open male flower and flower buds.

103_1 6 tepals and 6 stamens in male flower.

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The following photos are female plants:

138

140 Leaf of female plant plant is much sharply pointed at the tip than that of the male plant.

141 Underside of the leaf.

135 Twig with flowers.

145 Long inflorescences.

132 Young inflorescence emerge from the young leaf axil.

128 Raceme.

134_1 Different stages of flower buds and flowers.

127_1 Flower buds each with a pair of bracteoles at the base.

126_1 Partially open female flower.

131_1 Later view of the flower showing the outer surfaces of the tepals and the location of the ovary (swollen part near the base of the flower)

128_1

133_1 6 tepals, 6 rudimentary stamens and 1 style with 3 stigmas of the female flower.