jerusalem artichoke?

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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Found this growing in one of my local hangout spots... Looks like Jerusalem Artichoke THoguht I'd seek the adcvice of the experts.
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Being a South African botanist, I am no expert on North American flora, but from what I can see on your photos its unlikely to be a Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus of the Asteraceae family). I have experience only with cultivated varieties here in SA, but the wild forms which are indigenous to the Great lakes region of Canada and the eastern USA may look quite different.

Why I say its unlikely to be the Jerusalem artichoke is that the leaves visible on your photos are too uniformly narrow and the flower heads I can see all have only have 9 ray florets (petals), whereas as the Jerusalem artichoke has broader ovate-elliptic leaves (though the lvs higher up on the stem are often narrower than the lower lvs) and generally 10 to 20 ray florets. Check out Wikipedia for a good description and pics of the Jerusalem artichoke. Just remeber, wild forms can differ quite markedly from cultivated forms of the same species.
 
Upon further research it is not Jerusalem Artichoke, although the flower heads look similar, (ther american version can have 8-20 florets) However apparently all leaves of the j.A. are serrated..the ones in my pic are sadly not... Thanks for the Help Tony SA.. I know it grows around there ( I was told by a field botanist) now just to find it... Thanks
 
Didn't know the serrated leaf margin was a fixed character. Thanks for the info Rescue.
Allways good to learn more about food plants from all parts of the world, never know where your next adventure might be.......
 
Hey RR, when you do find it, be advised that JA makes the best hand drills for friction fire that I've ever used. And great tasting tubers - when raw, taste like Water Chestnuts. Also, apparently good for diabetics.

Doc
 
Doc I found it yesterday afternoon... On the edge of a pond in an area of poor soil...I've past the plant numerous times and I must say it has been flowering for a few weeks now... I am interested in trying the roots.. But didn;t want to uproot the plant without an proper Id... Good to Hear from you Doc...
 
Not much of a botanist, but let me know if you need any domestic cannabis identified...always best to do that one in person. :)
 
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