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Helianthus tuberosus
Spotted this with the plant naturlist I hiked with in the wild prairies woodland in Adams county Ohio yesterday. I have eaten these in the past. Other Names: Canada potato, earth-apple, girasole, sunflower artichoke, sunroot, tuberous sunflower. Origin and Distribution: Jerusalem artichoke is native to North America and may have originated in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. The first written account of the plant was a report issued in 1605 by Champlain, a European explorer, who observed Native Americans growing Jerusalem artichoke along with corn and beans in a Cape Cod garden. The species was introduced to Europe in 1612 where it gained popularity as both human and animal food. Its current range in North America extends from the East Coast to the Midwest, and from southern Canada to Georgia. Jerusalem artichoke occurs in all but a few northwestern counties in Ohio.
This native plant inhabits riverbanks, roadsides, fencerows, and agronomic fields, preferring rich, moist soils.
Spotted on Aug 4, 2011
Submitted on Aug 5, 2011
3 Comments
My friend said her family grew these for food. They would fry them. Southerners fry everything. Lol I have seen these in some catalogs, you can still purchase them. The pilgrims ate them too.
I think all that you can grow locally from your own good soil is better for your health. And it has a much better carbon footprint than food from the super market - ha ha!
This is a cool plant. Someone gave me some of these years ago. Its supposed to be very healthy to eat.