Dioscorea batata
- noun
- Specialized
:
ñame chino
- The edible tubers of Dioscorea batata are used in various Asian dishes.
Examples
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In warmer climates, Dioscorea batata can become a vigorously climbing ornamental plant.
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Gardeners often choose Dioscorea batata for its glossy, heart-shaped leaves and nutritious roots.
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Dioscorea batata is often grown in gardens for its attractive foliage and edible roots.
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The Dioscorea batata is often grown in gardens for its beautiful leaves.
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Many chefs appreciate Dioscorea batata for its unique flavor.
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Dioscorea batata is cultivated for its edible tubers, which are a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine.
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Dioscorea batata thrives in warm climates, producing both attractive foliage and delicious edible tubers.
Synonyms
A climbing plant from China that has glossy heart-shaped leaves that smell of cinnamon and edible tubers
A climbing plant with shiny heart-shaped leaves and edible roots
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a botanical binomial combining a genus name (Dioscorea, a genus of starchy tuberous yams) with a species epithet (batata, a cultivated tuberous plant), so the compound directly signals a particular kind of yam/tuber. A B1 learner who knows the provided constituent meanings can infer it refers to an edible, tuber-producing plant (a type of Dioscorea), making the meaning transparently compositional and consistent with cross-linguistic plant-naming conventions.
Etymology
Dioscorea batata may come from an old Greek plant doctor named Dioscorides for Dioscorea and the word batata from Spanish meaning 'sweet potato', so the name gives a picture of a yam-like plant with edible tubers and pretty leaves, which explains why people grow it for food and decoration.
