Family: Dioscoreaceae

Habit: Vines or lianas, often arising from thickened rhizome or tuber.

Branch: Stems sometimes armed with spines.

Leaves: Leaves simple, alternate or subopposite; petiole usually twisted at base; lamina margin entire or sometimes lobed, the secondary veins parallel and arching upward from the base, the tertiary veins perpendicular to secondary veins.

Stipules: Stipule-like structure sometimes present.

Inflorescence: Inflorescence a raceme, spike, or panicle, axillary.

Flowers: Flowers small, usually unisexual, plants dioecious; tepals 6 free or fused at the base into a tiny tube; stamens 6; ovary inferior, 3-locular, the styles free or fused below, the placentation axile.

Fruit: Fruit a winged capsule.

Seeds: Seeds many per fruit, usually surrounded by a small wing.