Freeze dried specimen of yam, Dioscorea composita, United States, 1985-1995

Freeze dried specimen of the Central American yam, Dioscorea composita, of the species, unsigned, Central America, 1985-1995. Used as a source of compounds used in the production of artificial hormones for early oral contraceptive pills.

The wild yam, Dioscorea composita, from Central America, was used in the production of artificial hormones for early oral contraceptive pills. The yam contains substances similar to key hormones such as progesterone. All progesterone was made in laboratories from wild plants by the 1950s.