Air Potato is an exotic nuisance plant originally from South East Asia. If not properly controlled the vines of the plant can quickly over- grow native plants. The potato-like bulbs develop into new plants when they drop to the ground.
In some countries where the Air Potato is native the bulbs are an important food source. However the species that grows in Florida has a very bitter taste making it inedible.
Air Potatoes were introduced to the United States in the late 1700's apparently as a food crop for slaves. Air Potato and Winged Yams are native to Southeast Asia where a variety of this plant is still cultivated as a food crop. The Air Potato is an aggressive vine with large leaves and aboveground tubers. It is capable of growing up to a foot a day during the summer months thereby completely overgrowing and smothering other plants.
In fall and winter the shorter days lead to a dieback of the leaves and vines leaving large potato-like tubers hanging from the dead vines. These tubers drop to the ground where they lie dormant until growing conditions are ideal. The variety growing wild in Florida is not palatable. |
