Family: Dioscoreaceae (Yam Family) 
Native range: Eastern China and the Philippines, but also Africa according to some authorities.
Description: Twining vine with alternate, dark green, heart-shaped leaves to 6 or more inches wide with an equal length. The vine twines counterclockwise and may reach thirty feet or more. Greenish-yellow flowers are produced on pendent spikes but flowers are not produced each year in Florida. The plant spreads rapidly from brown, globular, aerial bulbils (tubers) which can range from pea-size to six inches in diameter.
Ecological threat: Air potato is an extremely invasive and aggressive vine, growing rampantly in the spring and summer months and completely enshrouding trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. It dies back due to shortened day lengths in fall, dropping hundreds of bulbils that sprout in springtime. Once established, air potato is extremely difficult to eradicate and is most problematic in hardwood forests. Seeds are wind-dispersed but this species seldom sets fruit in Florida and it is not known if the seeds are viable.
Distribution in Florida: Northern Florida southward into the Florida Keys.
Background: Air potato was introduced into Florida in 1905 but was cultivated in the United States as early as 1777 as a food crop. The underground tubers and aerial bulbils are edible on some cultivars and this species is an important crop in many parts of the world.
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Family: Moraceae
