Dioscorea pubescens Poir. (Dioscoreaceae) was not explicitly typified when described it in 1813, and Poiret never mentions the J. Martin s.n. collections filed in FI and P citing only “V.f. in herb. Desfont.” So it is necessary to lectotypify herein. By priority, Dioscorea pubescens is the earliest published name to use, although D. pilosiuscula Bertero ex Spreng., has been a name traditionally used since its description in 1825. Dioscorea pubescens is very variable, principally in its pubescence and in the form and size of leaves throughout its distribution range, and this variability has been the reason for the taxon’s description under different names, 7 of which are synonymized herein.