Dioscorea villosa – Wild Yam. Pleated semi-glossed heart-shaped leaves, generally alternate but sometimes whorled, are very attractive on this vining native twiner. Each leaf measures 2 to 4 inches long by 1.5 to 3 inches wide. Wild Yam, a dioecious twiner, forms tiny green-cream flowers - no knock out appeal here but sinteresting, nonetheless on males. But females produce larger panicles (some identify the inflorescence as a raceme) develop chains of rounded three-winged seedpods about 1 inch tall and wide that age green-tinged gold. Please note: at this time our plants, young vines, are not sexed. Yes, this perennial species is dioecious requiring both male and female for seed production. The vine does not produce aerial bulbils. The tuber is not edible. Ontario, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, east to Florida, north to New England excluding New Hampsire and Maine. Plant in moisture retaining loam. Though tolerant of part shade best results will be had when grown in sun. Established potted Wild Yam from seed or division.