| Botanical name: |
Helianthus tuberosus L. |
| Common
name: |
Jerusalem artichoke |
| Synonomy: |
Helianthus tomentosus Michx.
Helianthus tuberosus L. var. subcanescens A. Gray |
| Group: |
dicot |
| Family: |
Asteraceae |
| Growth
Type: |
forb/herb |
| Duration: |
perennial |
| Origin: |
native |
| Plant
height: |
10' |
| Foliage: |
Leaves and stems are rough, branched to as wide as 5 feet. Leaves opposite on lower part of stem, alternate higher up, ovate, 5-10" long |
| Flowers: |
Numerous yellow flower heads, 3-4" across with 10-20 rays |
| Flowering/fruiting time: |
late August-September |
| Habitat: |
rich, damp thickets, moist, disturbed sites |
| Range
in
New Jersey: |
Cape May, Cumberland counties; Burlington and central Jersey
|
| Heritage ranking if any: |
n/a |
| Distribution: |
 |
| Misc.: |
The tuberous roots are edible and were cultivated by Native
Americans. It is also used in Germany to produce a liquor, "Topinambur"
and by industry as a source of fructose.
Attractive to butterflies; seeds eaten by finches and other songbirds.
Although native, it can become weedy in a garden.
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Sources
**USDA-NRCS
PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An
illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British
Possessions. Vol. 3: 486.
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