🌿Native Nature

air potato

Dioscorea bulbifera

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae ›Phylum: Tracheophyta ›Class: Liliopsida ›Order: Dioscoreales ›Family: Dioscoreaceae ›Genus: Dioscorea

About

Dioscorea bulbifera (commonly known as the air potato, air yam, bitter yam, cheeky yam, potato yam) is a species of true yam in the yam family, Dioscoreaceae. It is native to Africa, Southern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, In Sinhalese it's called Guvan Arthaapal. Maldives, In Dhivehi it's called Mathivah, China, Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia and northern Australia. It is widely cultivated and has escaped to become naturalized in many regions (Latin America, the West Indies,...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of air potato?
The scientific name of air potato is Dioscorea bulbifera.
What is the conservation status of air potato?
The air potato has a conservation status of Least Concern.
What kingdom does air potato belong to?
air potato belongs to the kingdom Plantae.
What phylum does air potato belong to?
air potato belongs to the phylum Tracheophyta.
What class does air potato belong to?
air potato belongs to the class Liliopsida.
What order does air potato belong to?
air potato belongs to the order Dioscoreales.
What family does air potato belong to?
air potato belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae.
What genus does air potato belong to?
air potato belongs to the genus Dioscorea.

In the News

How Indian communities earn a living from more than forest timber

Every year between February and May, when mahua flowers begin to fall, Mamta Tigga collects them. Mamta comes from a village in Gumla in the Indian state of Jharkhand and has been collecting mahua (a flower from Madhuca longifolia), gethi kanda (or air potato, Dioscorea bulbifera) and tendu leaves from the Indian ebony tree (Diospyros […]

Mongabay · 10/15/2026