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Apios - Medik.

Common Name Ground Nut
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 3-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Usually found in low damp bottomland or riparian woods and thickets, it is also often found round ancient Indian campsites[43, 62, 269].
Range N. America - Pennsylvania. Occasionally naturalized in S. Europe[50].
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Apios Ground Nut


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Apios Ground Nut

 

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Summary

Groundnut - Apios americana is a herbaceous perennial climber with edible tubers, seeds and leaves. It scrambles over shrubs or will twine around supports.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Apios is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in leaf from April to November, in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. tuberosa. Glycine tuberosa.

Habitats

Edible Uses

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 ]. The seedpods are 5 - 13cm long, containing 6 - 13 small seeds[418 ]. Young seedpods[55 , 62 , 95 , 177 ]. The seedpods are up to 13cm long[418 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

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].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

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

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Apios american tolerates a range of climatic conditions, producing well in cool temperate zones as well as the subtropical conditions of South Florida[269 ]. Prefers a light, rich soil and a sunny position[1, 27 ]. When grown in a warm dry situation in 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 ]. Prefers a pH in the range of 5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[418 ]. Dislikes windy situations[K ]. Apios americana is a plant of the temperate zone, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range of 10 - 20°c but can tolerate 8 - 30°c[418 ]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -40°c, though young growth can be damaged by frosts[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 700 - 1,500mm[418 ].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 ]. The flowers have the 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 ]. ]. No pruning needed, it will die down in the fall.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Wild Potato, Potato bean, Hopniss, American groundnut, Indian potato

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

US Native Distribution: New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; New England south to Florida; west to Louisiana and Texas; north to Minnesota, particularly Great Lakes area.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Apios americanaGround NutPerennial1.2 3-9  LMSNM513
Apios fortuneiHodo, HodoimoPerennial2.0 4-9  LMSNM513
Apios priceanaTraveler's delightPerennial3.0 6-9  LMSNM503

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Medik.

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