The origin of common names of species is sometimes obscure or even impossible to trace. Some species of Dioscorea and Colocasia presented similar underground organs and in works published in Brazilian literature we find certain confusion in the definition of the terminology of these structures. This happens especially in the case of certain species of "inhame" and "cara". The standardization in Brazil of the nomenclature of underground organs of these vegetables under the rules of the "International Codes of Botanical Nomenclature and Cultivated Plants" will permit a better understanding to researchers, farmers, organized civil societies, producers, tradesman and consumers, in order to promote the identification of cultivated species of each botanical family and interpretation of the information.
Colocasia; Dioscorea; igname; yam; taro