Apios americana

Apios americana (= Apios tuberosa, Glycine apios), commonly known as Potato Bean, Earthnut, is a climber.

Contents 1 Naming 2 Taxonomy 3 Characteristics 3.1 Growth 3.2 Wood and Bark 3.3 Leaves 3.4 Flowers and Fruit 3.5 Root System 4 Distribution 5 Cultivation 6 Uses 7 Maintenance 8 Varities and Cultivars 9 Poisonousness 10 Pests and Diseases 11 Man and Apios americana 11.1 History 11.2 Apios americana in art 11.3 Symbolism 11.4 Superstition 12 See also 13 References 13.1 Literature 13.2 Footnotes 14 Non-commercial Links

[edit] Naming

Apios americana was described in 1787 by Friedrich Kasimir Medikus. The name is considered as validly published.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Potato Bean is a species in the genus Apios (groundnut) which contains 10 species and belongs to the family of the Fabaceae (Legume Family).

[edit] Characteristics

[edit] Growth

The climbers grow to a height of approximately 4 meters.

[edit] Wood and Bark

[edit] Leaves

Apios americana is a decidious plant with imparipinnate leaves. The leaves are arranged opposite one another. They are lanceolate with entire margins.

[edit] Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are pea-shaped and purple. The plants bloom from July to September. The flowers are arranged in racemes.

The brown fruits are legumes. They develop in summer.

[edit] Root System

[edit] Distribution

Apios americana is native to eastern Canada, the Northeast of the US, the central Northeast of the US, the northern Prairie States of the US, Colorado, the southern Prairie States of the US, the Southeast of the US, Florida, is naturalized in Italy and France.

[edit] Cultivation

The Potato Bean prefers a shady site and can withstand temperatures down to -40º C.

The plants are only slightly drought tolerant. They will do quite well even in anaerobic soils and are highly tolerant of limy conditions.

[edit] Uses

[edit] Maintenance

[edit] Varities and Cultivars

[edit] Poisonousness

 Please read the health issues note! 

[edit] Pests and Diseases

[edit] Man and Apios americana

[edit] History

[edit] Apios americana in art

[edit] Symbolism

[edit] Superstition

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Literature

• Walter Erhardt, Erich Götz, Nils Bödeker, Siegmund Seybold: Der große Zander. Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7. (Ger.)
• Christoper Brickell (Editor-in-chief): RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Third edition. Dorling Kindersley, London 2003, ISBN 0-7513-3738-2.
• efloras.org

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] Non-commercial Links

More pictures of Apios americana in the

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• United States Department of Agriculturees:Apios americanafr:Apios americana