Botryosicyos Hochstetter, Flora 27(Bes. Beil. Bd. 1): 3. 1844.

Rootstock of perennial tubers irregular in shape. Stem twining to left. Bulblets present or absent. Leaves alternate, palmately 3--9-foliolate; leaflets ± orbicular to narrowly lanceolate, pinnately veined, margin entire; lateral leaflets similar to central one. Male inflorescences of spikes or racemes clustered or in panicles. Flowers solitary, pedicellate; bract and bracteole(s) borne on pedicel or at base of perianth, often forming an involucel around flower; perianth lobes connate at base; stamens usually 3, alternating with 3 staminodes. Female spike occasionaly branched. Capsule reflexed at maturity, longer than wide. Seeds inserted near apex of capsule; wing pointing toward capsule base.

Prain and Burkill treated the members of this section within Dioscorea sect. Lasiophyton but the differences in leaflet venation, male bracts, stamen number, and chemistry justify the resurrection of D. sect. Botryosicyos.

About 30 species: Africa, Asia, Europe; nine species (four endemic) in China.