Groundnut

Plant Info

Also known as:	American Potato-bean, Indian Potato
Scientific name:	Apios americana
Family:	Pea (Fabaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; moist woods and thickets, along shores
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	3 to 10 foot vine
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are irregular with a large upper lip that is divided into 2 “wings”, a lower lip with 2 small lobes and a curved gland protruding from the center. The outside of the upper lip is a dull light pink to brown and the lower lobes are dark red, purplish maroon to brown. A string of 5 to 10 flowers arises from the leaf axils and may be in a round cluster, or more spread out spike-like.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are compound in groups of 5 or 7; leaflets are up to 2½ inches long and 1 inch wide with a wide rounded base and pointed tip, on short stems. This is a vine that lacks tendrils, so the stem entwines around other plants to support itself.

Notes:

The tubers produced by Groundnut are edible and are more nutritious than potatoes. The seeds are also edible.

More photos

• Groundnut vine

More pink wildflowers. Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN and Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids, MN August 2007

Comments

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