ExplorePlants

air potato

Dioscorea bulbifera

Air potatoes are unique plants that grow in warm places. They have round, potato-like bulbs that can be found above the ground, making them special and fun to discover!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The air potato is a fast-growing vine with large, heart-shaped leaves. It produces distinctive, rough, greenish-brown, potato-like growths called bulbils directly on its stems. Its small flowers are often overlooked.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderDioscorealesFamilyDioscoreaceaeGenusDioscorea
air potato
climbing trait badgeflowering trait badgefruit_bearing trait badgeedible trait badge
air potato

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Invasive air potato vines can grow over 20 feet in a single season! Wow!

Its scientific name, Dioscorea, honors an ancient Greek botanist and physician.

One mature air potato vine can produce hundreds of new "baby" bulbils each year!

Some air potato varieties can be peeled, boiled, and eaten like regular potatoes!

Special abilities

Ability

Bulbil Blaster

The air potato can grow 'baby potatoes' (bulbils) on its vine that drop off, sprouting new plants super fast!

Ability

Climbing Conqueror

Air potato has strong twining stems that help it rapidly climb up trees and structures, reaching for sunlight.

Ability

Regrowth Reactor

This plant can sprout new vines from fallen bulbils or root pieces, making it very hard to get rid of!

Measurements & details

Height
300-2000 cm
Spread
200-1000 cm
Flower Size
0.3-0.6 cm
Bloom Season
Late summer to fall
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

eats

Air Potato Leaf Beetle

Lilioceris cheni

This beetle munches on air potato leaves, helping to control its spread.

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Honey bees visit its small flowers, helping the plant reproduce.

parasitizes

Fungus

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

This fungus can cause leaf spots and blight, weakening the plant.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Do not eat any part of the plant without asking an adult first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is air potato?

300-2000 cm

How wide does air potato spread?

200-1000 cm

How big are the flowers on air potato?

0.3-0.6 cm

When does air potato bloom?

Late summer to fall

Is air potato edible?

Yes

Is air potato toxic?

Moderate

What is air potato's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is air potato pollinated?

Insect

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