Wild Yamroot Inflorescence - Staminate inflorescences of axillary panicles to +/-10cm long. Axis of inflorescence glabrous. Each division if the panicles typically subtended by small subulate bracts. Bracts to 2mm long. Flowers sessile, typically 2 at a node. Flowers subtended by a broadly ovate bract. Bracts glabrous, scarious in the apical half, 1.2mm long and broad.
Flowers - Staminate flowers - Perianth segments 6, green, glabrous, spreading, obovate to elliptic, -2mm long, with slightly scarious margins. Stamens 6, adnate at the base of the perianth segments, erect. Filaments green, glabrous, short, .2-.3mm long. Anthers bi-lobed, whitish, .2-.4mm broad.
Pistillate flowers not seen.
Other info. - The plant is easy to identify because of its whorled leaves.
Another species, D. villosa L., is very similar and many botanists think the two should be lumped as one species. Currently they are still separated on differences in their root structure and fruit size. D. villosa is also supposed to have 3 or less leaves at a node whereas D. quaternata has 4 or more. This characteristic doesn't always hold in the field however.