| Noun | 1. | Dioscorea - yams plant genus - a genus of plants yam plant, yam - any of a number of tropical vines of the genus Dioscorea many having edible tuberous roots Dioscorea elephantipes, elephant's-foot, Hottentot bread vine, Hottentot's bread vine, tortoise plant - South African vine having a massive rootstock covered with deeply fissured bark Dioscorea paniculata, wild yam - having a rhizome formerly dried and used to treat rheumatism or liver disorders |