Dioscorea genera are terrestrial vine plants that develop huge woody ball shaped bases. They are winter growers and go completely leafless in the summer. Then they spring back to life in the fall to produce a lush canopy of vines and green leaves. Two popular species are D. elephantipes from South Africa and D. mexicana from the state of Veracruz in Mexico south to Panama. Below are photographs of large Dioscorea elephantipes.