Flower ID: IMG_2345.JPG-06-27-2024 Flower name (scientific): Dioscorea villosa Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) dy-oh-SKOR-ee-uh vil-OH-suh Flower name (common): Wild Yam Family name (common): Yam Family name (scientific): Dioscoreaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named for the Greek physician and naturalist Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40 – 90 AD). Specific epithet: With soft hairs. Common name origin: For the habit and the starchy tuberous root of different species of Dioscorea. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm) Petal count: 6 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 72 to 196 inches (1.8 to 5 m) long. Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate and/or whorl, type is simple Size: Leaves about the same length and width, range from about 3 to 13 cm long and about 2 to 13 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, ovate-cordate (FNA), narrowly cordate to cordate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, roadsides, savannas, thickets, river and lake margins, marshes, sandy to rocky soil, moist to dry, semi shade to sun. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki prepared from the roots a pain reliever for women giving birth (Smith, p. 220, 1928). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (ON) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC