Observations on the floral morphology of someDioscorea species (Dioscoreaceae) in Nigeria

Observations on floral morphology of eight species ofDioscorea L., namely,D. bulbifera L.,D. dumetorum(Kunth) Pax,D. hirtifloraBenth.,D. minutifloraEngl.,D. preussiiPax,D. odoratissimaPax,D. rotundataPoir. andD. SmilacifoliaDe Wild. are presented. The most remarkable distinctive features of the taxa studied are: the presence of large fruits and raceme inflorescences inD. preussii, the absence of pendulous inflorescences inD. dumetorum, and the absence of stalks in female flowers ofD. bulbifera.