Groundnut

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TARGET="_top" TITLE="Big Bluestem">Big Bluestem</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="062d2b03.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="3a5b1800.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="128" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="3a7b1c60.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="198" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=379 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Groundnut</I></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="38c44400.jpg" border=0 width="68" height="64" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><I><B>Ohio Prairie Plant </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Species </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#339933" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> Common Name: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Groundnut</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Latin Name: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I>Apios americana  </I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >[Pronounced: "APE-ee-ohs  amer-eh-KAHN-uh"]</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Type of Plant: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Arial" >Perennial Forb</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Identification Helps: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > A low, leafy legume vine with characteristic leafs (seen photo). </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Similar Species: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > No other prairie species is so vine-like, with similarly-shaped leaves.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Preferred Growing Conditions in the Wild:<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#339933" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Found in fertile prairies.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Preferred Soils:<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#339933" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Grows in all prairie soils. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Seasons of Growth and Bloom:<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#339933" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Blooms in July through September, occassionally October.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Natural Distribution in Ohio:<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#339933" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Found in most Ohio prairie areas, but not common in the Southwest Ohio Prairie Region.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Description and General Information: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >This interesting legume is often overlooked, as it grows as a low vine down among prairie grass and forb stems. It was a significant food source for Native Americans and early European settlers, as it has walnut-sized, very tasty and nutritious tubers. The species grows throughout the entire eastern half of North America, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, in both prairie and open forest habitats.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Efforts have been made to domesticate this wild legume, where plants with larger tubers would be grown, somewhat in the manner of potatoes. Because of its high protein content, it was a significant food for Native Americans. Settlers in early New England learned of the plant’s nutrition and availability and it provided vital food during famine years when corn crops failed.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>