Adaptation

Growth

Wild yams have specific adaptations that allow them to grow in their environment the best way possible. They have the ability to sense gravity and light which results in the upward growth of the stem. Wild yams also have the ability to feel. This explains their ability to wrap counter-clockwise up nearby organisms. All of this together lets Dioscorea villosa L. to get as high as possible and absorb more light for photosynthesis.

Dioscorea villosa L. has also developed very wide, but thin leaves. These leaves allow for more surface area for photosynthesis. The thin structure of the leaves is also positive because the plant has to only maintain cells that are acquiring food.

Wild yams have adapted to transfer the sugars from photosynthesis and waters from roots via vascular tissue. Like all other vascular plants, wild yams have phloem and xylem to distribute water and nutrients throughout the entire organism.

Reproduction

Dioscorea villosa L. even has adaptations for dispersing its seeds. As mentioned on the classification page, organisms in the family, Dioscoreaceae, have three-winged seeds. These seeds just take a little wind to be dispersed far from the parent plants.

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