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Dioscoreaceae (Natural order of twining)

A natural order of twining shrubs or herbs, found chiefly in tropical countries. Flowers in spikes, small; perianth of males six-cleft; lobes in two rows, herbaceous and adnate; stamens six, inserted in the base of the perianth. Female flowers with a six-cleft or six-partite perianth; staminodes small, three to six. Most of the Dioscoreas produce tubers (known as Yams), which are used as food, in the same way as potatoes. Dioscorea is the typical genus. The order is represented in Britain by the Black Bryony, Tamus communis.