Groundnut (Apios americana)

"better boiled than roasted" - Henry David Thoreau

General Crop Information
Apios Americana of the family Fabaceae, is a perennial nitrogen fixing leguminous vine with edible tubers, shoots, and flowers. The periodic swellings, or groundnuts, along the root system are available for harvest year round and can range anywhere from the size of a marble to a golf ball. The groundnut thrives in moist, sandy soil with a pH range of 4.5-7, accompanied with full to partial sun (perfect for the edible forest garden). The vines may need to be trellised to prevent out of control weed-like spreading; however once established, the groundnut requires little to no care. The native range of Apios Americana extends through southern Canada, down to the eastern U.S. and over to the Midwestern states.

More About the Groundnut
The groundnut was a staple crop to the diets of Native Americans. It is an exremely beneficial crop because it over winters well in a time where the land is producing little other food. According to Tamara Dean from Orion Magazine, the Wampanoags tought the Pilgrims how to dig up and cook these "Indian potatoes," probably sparing them from starvation. Henry David Thoreau even knew and ate these tubers.

Some interesting health benefits also cited in the article include the groundnut's high protein content, containing 17% (nearly three times more than potatoes). Studies have also shown that groundnuts contain a high quantity of isoflavones, which are chemicals linked to decreased incidence of prostate and breast cancers. Additionally, the British organization Plants for the Future, that educates people about "edible, medicinal, and useful plants for a healthier world," ranks apios americana the fourth most important plant in its database of seven thousand. The health benefits are abundant! However, there have been some instances of people getting ill upon eating groundnuts after the initial introduction into their diet. This may just be attributed to growing conditions, or amount of protein built of prior to injestion. This is something to be mindful of, however it has only been documented in one experts experiences.

Check out this interesting article "Stalking the Wild Groundnut" from Orion Magazine that I cited for more information on how it can be cooked and expert information on this great edible plant! It's actually a really interesting and fun read :}

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