dioscorea
noun
di·os·co·rea
ˌdīəˈskōrēə
1
capitalized : a genus of mostly tropical twining herbs (family Dioscoreaceae) including the yams and having net-veined leaves and small dioecious flowers
2
plural -s : the dried rhizome of a wild yam (Dioscorea paniculata) formerly used in hepatic disorders and rheumatism
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, irregular from Pedanius Dioscorides, 1st century a.d. Greek physician