Family: yam family (Dioscoreaceae)
Flowering time: May–June
Size: stem 150–300 cm long
Habitat: forests, forest edges and shrubs
Common yam (Tamus communis) is a climber that usually climbs along the branches of shrubs. In spring it sprouts from a tuber that lies underground and is up to 30 cm long. The long-petioled, heart-shaped leaves are distinctly net-veined, which is rare among monocots. Common yam is a dioecious plant, meaning that on one plant only male flowers develop, on another plant only female flowers. The small six-parted flowers are yellow-green. They are 3 to 6 mm wide. The somewhat larger, bell-shaped male flowers have petals that are up to half the length, bent backwards. The petals of the female flowers, almost completely free, are very narrow.
It is widespread throughout Slovenia, avoiding only the high parts of the mountainous region and Pomurje. Common yam is somewhat poisonous!
