Dioscoreaceae

Dioscorea L.

Last edited by Pieter B. Pelser, 1 September 2026
  1. Dioscorea alata L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 1033; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 151; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 215; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 330. Distribution: Bangladesh, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Cambodia, India, Java, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam. PALAWAN, PANAY (photos). Notes: Ube. Cryptogenic.
  2. Dioscorea bulbifera L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 1033; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 151; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 215; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 311. Distribution: Africa, Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Indian Ocean, Japan, Java, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pacific Ocean, Pakistan, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. BICAWAYAN, BOHOL, CAMIGUIN, CATANDUANES, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, MASBATE, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, MINDORO, PALAWAN, PANAY, TABLAS. Notes: 0-1000(-2700)m. Native.
    • var. bulbifera. Distribution: Africa, Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Indian Ocean, Japan, Java, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pacific Ocean, Pakistan, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. LEYTE, LUZON: Bataan, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, MASBATE, MINDANAO. Notes: Thickets. 0-1000(-2700)m. Native.
  3. Dioscorea cumingii Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 4 (1908) 449; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 216; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 317; Kishor et al., Kew Bull. 76 (2022) 342; Type: Cuming 1469 (K, lecto; K, P, isolecto), Luzon: Batangas, 1841. = Dioscorea echinata R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 148; Merrill, EPFP 4 (1926) 242. = Dioscorea inaequifolia Elmer ex Prain & Burkill, LPB 5 (1913) 1595; Type: Elmer 10654 (NY, lecto; BISH, CAS, E, F, GH, K, L, US, isolecto), Mindanao: Davao, Mt Apo, May-1909. Distribution: Philippines, Taiwan. BATAN, CAMIGUIN DE BABUYANES, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Camarines, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales (photos), MINDANAO: Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental (photos), Zamboanga del Norte, MINDORO, NEGROS, SAMAR. Native.
    • var. cumingii. Distribution: LUZON: Apayao, Bataan, Benguet, Camarines, Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO, MINDORO. Notes: Thickets and forests at low and medium elevation, ascending to 1400m. Native.
    • var. polyphylla (R.Knuth) Burkill, Fl. Males., 1st Ser. 4 (1951) 317; ≡ Dioscorea polyphylla R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 148. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. LUZON: Rizal, Zambales (photos). Native.
    • var. ramosii Burkill, ined.; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 317. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. BATAN, CAMIGUIN DE BABUYANES. Notes: Burkill hints that this taxon may be conspecific with Dioscorea heptaphylla Sasaki of Taiwan. Native.
  4. Dioscorea divaricata Blanco, Fl. Filip., 1st Ed. (1837) 797; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 216; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 332. = Dioscorea oxyphylla R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 269; Merrill, EPFP 4 (1926) 242. = Dioscorea soror Prain & Burkill, LPB 5 (1913) 1598; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 219. = Dioscorea soror var. glauca Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 34; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 219. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. CATANDUANES, CEBU, LUZON: Albay, Bataan, Bulacan, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Zambales, MARINDUQUE, PALAWAN, PANAY. Notes: Low and medium elevation thickets and secondary forests. Native.
  5. Dioscorea elmeri Prain & Burkill, LPB 5 (1913) 1594; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 216; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 317; Type: Elmer 9156 (K, lecto; CAL, GH, isolecto), Luzon: Lucban, Tayabas Island, May-1907. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. BATANES, LUZON: Laguna, Quezon, SAMAR. Notes: Everwet forests. 0-800m. Native.
  6. Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill, Gard. Bull. Straits Settlem. 1 (1917) 396; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 216; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 307; ≡ Oncus esculentus Lour., Fl. Cochinch. (1790) 194. Distribution: Bangladesh, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Cambodia, India, Java, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam. BATANES, LUZON: Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, La Union, Laguna, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Rizal, PANAY (photos), SEMIRARA. Notes: Low elevation thickets and secondary forests. Also often cultivated. 0-5m (photos). Cryptogenic.
    • var. fasciculata (Roxb.) R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 190; Antonio & Buot, Biodiversitas 22 (2021) 1787; ≡ Dioscorea aculeata var. fasciculata (Roxb.) Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 20; ≡ Dioscorea fasciculata Roxb., Fl. Ind. (Roxburgh) 2 (1832) 801; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 216. Notes: Plants devoid of thorny roots; entirely cultivated. Naturalized.
    • var. spinosa (Roxb. ex Prain & Burkill) R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 189; Antonio & Buot, Biodiversitas 22 (2021) 1787; ≡ Dioscorea aculeata var. spinosa Roxb. ex Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 20; ≡ Dioscorea spinosa Roxb. ex Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6 (1892) 291, nom. illeg., non Burm. Distribution: PANAY (photos). Notes: Plants well provided with thorny roots; includes both cultigens and wild forms. 0-5m (photos). Cryptogenic.
  7. Dioscorea filiformis Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae (1827) 22; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 217; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 329. Distribution: Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand. BALABAC, BOHOL, CULION, JOLO, LUZON: Bataan, Batangas, Laguna, NCR, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, MINDANAO: Zamboanga, PALAWAN. Notes: Low elevation thickets and ravines. Native.
  8. Dioscorea flabellifolia Prain & Burkill, LPB 5 (1913) 1593; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 217; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 309; Type: Elmer 9095 (B, lecto; CAL, isolecto), Luzon: Tayabas. Distribution: Borneo, Pacific Ocean, Philippines. BATAN, BUYAYAO (photos), CAMIGUIN DE BABUYANES, CATANDUANES, LUZON: Albay, Aurora, Ifugao, Isabela, Laguna, Quezon, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: South Cotabato, MINDORO, PALAWAN, PANAY (photos). Notes: Low and medium elevation humid forests. 8m (photos). Native.
  9. Dioscorea grata Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 35; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 217; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 328; Type: Loher 7017 (K, lecto), Luzon: Rizal, Montalban. Distribution: New Guinea, Philippines. BILIRAN, LUZON: Rizal. Notes: No Philippine data on habitat and elevation, but in New Guinea reported in Agathis forest. 300m. Native.
  10. Dioscorea hispida Dennst., Schlüssel Hortus Malab. (1818) 33; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 217; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 318; Raganas et al., Biodiversitas 26 (2025) 1194. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam. APULIT, BILIRAN, CULION, DONDONAY, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Laguna, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, MASBATE (photos), MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental (photos), South Cotabato (photos), MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY, SAMAR, SIBUYAN (photos). Notes: Sea level and low and medium elevation. 0-300m (photos). Native.
    • var. hispida. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam. Notes: Throughout the Philippines in thickets and regrowth forests at low and medium elevation. Native.
    • var. daemona (Roxb.) Prain & Burkill, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 14 (1936) 192. Distribution: ?Philippines.
  11. Dioscorea loheri Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 33; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 217; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 332; Kishor et al., Kew Bull. 76 (2022) 348; Type: Loher 1886 (K, lecto; CAL, P, M, isolecto), Luzon: San Francisco del Monte (Manila), 16-Oct-1890. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. CEBU, ?LEYTE (photos), LUZON: Benguet, NCR, Rizal, MINDANAO: Davao Oriental, PALAWAN. Notes: Low elevation thickets. According to Merrill (1922) perhaps referable to Dioscorea divaricata Blanco. Native.
  12. Dioscorea luzonensis Schauer, Nov. Actorum Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 19(Suppl. 1) (1843) 444; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 218; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 325. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. DALUPIRI, LUZON: Apayao, Batangas, Bulacan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, MINDORO, PALAWAN. Notes: Chiefly at low and medium elevation thickets. Common in the provinces near Manila where there are two drier breaks in the year. Fl. Sep or earlier. Native.
  13. Dioscorea merrillii Prain & Burkill, LPB 5 (1913) 1598; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 218; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 332; Kishor et al., Kew Bull. 76 (2022) 348; Type: Elmer 11924 (K, lecto; BISH, BM, CAL, isolecto), Mindanao: Todaya, Mt Apo, Oct-1909. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. MINDANAO: Davao de Oro (photos), Davao del Sur, MINDORO. Notes: Old clearings and thickets. 700m to 950m (photos). Native.
  14. Dioscorea nummularia Lam., Encycl. (Lamarck) 3 (1789) 231; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 218; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 331. = Dioscorea nummularia var. glauca Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 35; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 218. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Java, Moluccas, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Vietnam. BALABAC, BASILAN, CAMIGUIN, CAMOTES, CEBU, LEYTE, LUZON: Aurora, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, La Union, Laguna, Mountain Province, Pampanga, Quezon, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Davao del Sur, Surigao, Surigao del Norte (photos), Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, MINDORO, PALAWAN, POLILLO, SAMAR. Notes: In most or all provinces in Luzon. Low and medium elevation thickets. 350-450m. Conservation status: Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1). Native.
  15. Dioscorea palawana Prain & Burkill, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1925 (1925) 59; Merrill, EPFP 4 (1926) 242; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 305; Kishor et al., Kew Bull. 76 (2022) 355; Type: Merrill 9584 (US, lecto; K, SING, isolecto), Palawan: Silanga, May-1913. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. PALAWAN, PANAY. Notes: (?-)300m. DAO category: Vulnerable. Native.
  16. Dioscorea pentaphylla L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 1032; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 152; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 218; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 315. = Dioscorea pentaphylla var. malaica Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 23. = Dioscorea pentaphylla var. palmata Burkill, Gard. Bull. Straits Settlem. 3 (1924) 258. Distribution: Australia, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Indian Ocean, Java, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pacific Ocean, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam. BATANES, BUSUANGA, LUZON: Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Camarines Sur, Laguna, NCR, Nueva Vizcaya, Rizal, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, PANAY, SAMAR. Notes: 340m (photos). Native.
  17. Dioscorea peperoides Prain & Burkill, LPB 5 (1913) 1597; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 219; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 325; Type: Elmer 6399 (NYBG, lecto; CAL, isolecto), Luzon: Benguet, Twin-peaks, May-1904. Distribution: Philippines, Vietnam. AMBIL, GOLO, LUZON: Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Rizal, MINDORO, PABELLON ISLS, PALAWAN. Notes: 0-1300m. Native.
    • var. peperoides. = Dioscorea peperoides var. sagittifolia Prain & Burkill, J. Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 10 (1914) 28; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 219. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. GOLO, LUZON: Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Rizal, PALAWAN. Notes: Thickets. In Palawan occurring on limestone formations at sea level. 0-1300m. Native.

Incertae sedis

  1. Dioscorea mindanaensis R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 271; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1924) 242. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. Notes: Burkill (1951): “The name is virtually a nomen nudum, the scrap of which it was given being inadequate even for the establishment of the section. But it is interesting to know that a Dioscorea occurs on the E slopes of Mt Apo in Mindanao (S Philippines) at that considerable height of 2000m”. Native.
  2. Dioscorea wilkesii Uline ex R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 271; Merrill, EPFP 4 (1926) 242. Distribution: LUZON: Laguna. Notes: Known from Wilkes Expedition s.n., Laguna, Los Baños. Apparently unaccounted for in Burkill (1951). Synonym of Dioscorea loheri Prain & Burkill? Native.

Stenomeris Planch.

Last edited by Pieter B. Pelser, 5 January 2022
  1. Stenomeris borneensis Oliv., Hooker's Icon. Pl. 24 (1894) t.2328; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 297; Romeroso et al., J. Asia-Pacific Biodiv. 17 (2024) 10; Type: from Borneo. = Stenomeris mindanaensis R.Knuth, Pflanzenr. (Engler) IV (43) (1924) 345; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1924) 242; Caddick & Wilkin, Kew Bull. 53 (1998) 710; Type: Merrill 7301 (A or NY, holo; K, L, iso), Mindanao: Butuan, Agusan River, 1910. Distribution: Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Philippines, Sumatra. HOMONHON, MINDANAO: Agusan, Agusan del Norte, Davao, Davao Oriental, Surigao, Surigao del Norte (photos), Zamboanga, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte (photos). Notes: On wet or sandy soil. Lowland. 400-500m (photos). Native.
  2. Stenomeris dioscoreifolia Planch., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris), 3rd Sér. 18 (1852) 320; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 219; Burkill, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 4 (1951) 295; Caddick & Wilkin, Kew Bull. 53 (1998) 709; Type: Cuming 875 (K, holo), Luzon: Albay. = Stenomeris cumingiana Becc., Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital. 2 (1870) 8; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 219; Type: Cuming 1739 (FI, holo), Philippines: 1841. = Stenomeris wallisii Taub., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 15(Beibl. 38) (1893) 2; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 220; Type: Wallis (B, holo), Philippines. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. ALABAT, BILIRAN, CATANDUANES, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Aurora, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Isabela, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Surigao, Zamboanga Sibugay, MINDORO, ROMBLON, SAMAR (photos), SIBUYAN. Notes: 0-500m. Native.

References