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Apios americana - Medik.

Ground Nut

Author	Medik.	Botanical references	43, 200
Family	Leguminosae	Genus	Apios
Synonyms	Apios tuberosa - Moench.
Known Hazards	None known
Range	N. America - Pennsylvania. Occasionally naturalized in S. Europe[50].
Habitat	Usually found in low damp bottomland or riparian woods and thickets, it is also often found round ancient Indian campsites[43, 62, 269].
Edibility Rating	5 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	1 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1.2m.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Cultivars: (as above except)
'LA85 Series'

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root; Seed; Seedpod.

Tuber - raw or cooked[1, 2, 27, 55, 62, 63]. A delicious flavour somewhat like roasted sweet potatoes, it always receives very high marks in taste trials with us[K]. The tuber can also be dried and ground into a powder then used as a thickening in soups etc or can be added to cereal flours when making bread[132, 257]. Tubers contain 17% crude protein, this is more than 3 times that found in potatoes[183]. The tubers can be harvested in their first year but they take 2 - 3 years to become a sizeable crop[160]. They can be harvested at any time of the year but are at their best in the autumn[160]. The tubers can also be harvested in the autumn and will store until at least the spring[K]. Yields of 2.3 kilos of tubers per plant have been achieved[222]. Seed - cooked[62]. Rather small and not produced very freely[K], they are used like peas and beans[183, 213]. A good source of protein, they can be ground into a powder and added to cereals when making bread etc[257]. Young seedpods[55, 62, 95, 177].

Composition

Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.

Root (Fresh weight)

• 0 Calories per 100g
• Water: 0%
• Protein: 17g; Fat: 0g; Carbohydrate: 0g; Fibre: 0g; Ash: 0g;
• Minerals - Calcium: 0mg; Phosphorus: 0mg; Iron: 0mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
• Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0mg; Niacin: 0mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
• Reference: []
• Notes: 

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

The tubers were used in folk remedies for that cancerous condition known as "Proud Flesh" in New England. Nuts were boiled and made into a plaster, "For to eat out the proud flesh they (the Indians) take a kind of earth nut boyled and stamped"[269].

Other Uses

Latex.

There is one report that the plant contains a latex which could be used in the production of rubber[269].

Scented Plants

Flowers: Fresh

The flowers have a scent of violets.

Cultivation details

Prefers a light rich soil and a sunny position[1, 27]. When grown in a warm dry situation in a well-drained sandy soil, the plants will be long lived with the tuberous roots increasing in size and number each year[245]. Another report says that the plant prefers light dappled shade[200]. It tolerates acid soils[160]. Dislikes windy situations[K]. Groundnut is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 97 to 117cm, an average annual temperature range of 9.9 to 20.3°C and a pH in the range of 4.5 to 7.0[269]. It tolerates a range of climatic conditions and produces well in cool temperate zones as well as the subtropical conditions of South Florida[269]. Whilst most reports suggest that this species should be cold hardy in all parts of Britain, one report says that the plants may require protection in severe winters[134]. The groundnut has occasionally been cultivated for its edible root and has the potential to become a commercial crop[95, 183]. Cultivars have been selected in the past for higher yields and larger tubers, it is said that the yields from some of these cultivars can rival potato crops[95, 183]. Some of these cultivars are gradually becoming available in Britain[K]. The best yields are obtained when the plant is left in the ground for at least two growing seasons. Yields of 30 tonnes per hectare have been achieved from weed crops growing in a field of cranberries[269]. This species has been grown in the past in S. Europe[46, 50] and has been suggested as a nitrogen-fixing edible ornamental for permaculturalists[222]. The plant forms long thin roots which enlarge at intervals along their length to form the tubers, the effect is somewhat like a necklace[K]. Plants can be invasive once they are established[200] and have become a weed of cultivated cranberry crops in N. America[269]. A climbing plant, twining around the thin branches of other plants for support[K]. The flowers have a scent of violets[245]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 3 hours in tepid water and sow February/March in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting them out in late spring or early summer. Division can be carried out at almost any time of the year, though spring is probably the best time. Simply dig up the roots, harvest the tubers and replant them where you want the plants to grow. It is also possible to harvest the tuber in winter, store them in a cool fairly dry but frost-free place over the winter and then plant them out in the spring. The tubers lose moisture rapidly once they have been harvested, so make sure that you store them in a damp medium such as leafmold.

Cultivars

'LA85 Series'

There has been considerable research at Louisiana State University into the potential of this plant as a commercial root crop. There are several cultivars that might be released for trial soon (this entry is dated 1990)[183].

Links

This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: Alternative Root Crops, The Urban Garden , Woodland Garden Plants, The Potted Garden, The Woodland Edge Garden.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[27] Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press 0 ISBN 0-89815-041-8
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.

[43] Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950
A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[55] Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973
Interesting reading.

[62] Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982 ISBN 0442222009
Very readable.

[63] Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948
Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.

[95] Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976 ISBN 0-486-23310-3
Useful wild plants of America. A pocket guide.

[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. 0
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.

[134] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[160] Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. 0
Fascinating reading, this is an annual publication. Some reports do seem somewhat exaggerated though.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[213] Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.

[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

[269] Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983
Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of plants.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

American groundnuts (apios americana)

ivy Mon Jul 23 02:41:52 2001

I am interested in a herb named American groundnuts (apios americana). It also called wild patato or wild bean. The tubers of this plant has a very delicious taste. Do you have tubers of this plant for sale. Please contact me at tuantuanchu@usa.net. Thank you!

Alternative Root Crops.

Tue Nov 20 15:25:42 2001

You can order apios from Future Foods, www.futurefoods.com. This is a marvellous little company, I have bought from them for years. their catalogs are a little work of art, in my opinion. the apios is the nicest tasting of the various alternative roots I grow (yacon, mashua, oca, Jer. arti) and I can't wait till I have more of them next year. Love, success, Annemieke Wigmore amjwigmore@yahoo.com

Oxalis tuberosa

A.Wigmore Sun Jan 27 20:16:18 2002

I grow various unusual tubers in my raised vegetable beds: oxalis tuberosa, tropaeolum tuberosum , apios americana, dioscorea batatas (that one does not do well, probably too cold without protection), yacon. I wonder if any or all of them will benefit from a load of compost, and whether it is good to grow them in the same place year after year?

Apios americana

Donna L Phillips Tue Jun 1 13:33:12 2004

I have found the groundnut,apios americana, growing wild on a gully (small stream) on my 10 acre property in Beauregard Parish, Southwest Louisiana. I was intrigued by the unusual bloom and decided to do some research with fantastic results. I first identified it through "Wildflowers of the Big Thicket, East Texas, and Western Louisiana" by Geyata Ajilvsgi. Then, having a name for the plant, I was able to get extensive information on the WEB. My plant has a mauvey-pink color and grows from the edge of the stream bed, with its roots in the moist soil of the stream. This stream overflows during heavy rains and is sometimes underwater and saturated for long periods of time. It is in a partially shaded location. I hope to gather some seed and tubers to try domestication in my garden. Interestingly, we have lived on this property for over 20 years and I have never noticed this plant. The foliage is somewhat insignificant as I have many vines that grow along this gully. The bloom was what caught my eye.

Apios americana

Tue Jan 4 00:25:53 2005

Apios seems to like our heavy clay soil just fine. I planted 4 small roots 8 years ago, and last year decided our only salvation was to eat our way out, but that didn't work. We keep trying, but it keeps spreading. A friend we hadn't seen in years laughed when I mentioned Apios and offered to show us the quarter acre he has of it. He said it killed the honeysuckle, which is a notorious and indestructable invasive here. We do like Apios very much, and it doesn't attract and feed the meadow voles the way sunchokes do. Apparently the latex makes it unpalatable raw. Donna Hudson redherring@tnaccess.com

Apios americana

Gilbert Sat Feb 25 2006

Producers and Exporters of Rice, Onions, Potatoes, Dry Red Chilies, Black Grem, Tuar Dal, Mysore Dal, Moong Dal, Tamarind, Turmeric, Pepper, Cardamom, Yellow Corn, Coriander Seeds, Groundnut, Cashew Nut.

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Apios americana

Nancy Mehegan Fri Feb 29 2008

I frequently came across this plant in early journals of settlers and explorers. You can purchase the plant from Tripple Brook Farms www.tripplebrookfarm.com . They have a lot of native plants. I did buy one and am familiarizing myself with it, so one day I can locate in the wild with confidence. Also want to grow it and perhaps sell it one day.

Tripple Brook Farm sels US Native plants

Apios americana

Teresa Mon Mar 3 2008

I looked for futurefoods.com and they say the site is under construction. Is there another source for ground nuts? Or does anyone have the phone number for Future Foods so I can get a catalog?

Apios americana

Marinella Zepigi Tue Jun 10 2008

Acta plantarum forum botanico Description - Photos - Apios americana Medik.

Apios americana

Anthony Fri Mar 13 2009

Most of the people even don't know about it. It is one of the precious gifts from the God. It is interesting to know that the nut is very much used in the remedies of many hazardies diseases.

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Apios americana

KennethByrd Wed Apr 22 2009

Source for Apios Americana Was Available in 2008

Edible Landscaping, Afton Virginia Apios Americana

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