Helianthus tuberosus - Jerusalem Artichoke
 This
sunflower is not from the Middle East, but native to North America. Its
name actually comes from a corruption of "girosole" which is Italian for
"turning to the sun". Look for large patches of these plants along shaded
roadsides.
One of the the most highly prized edible wild plants, the tubers can be used like potatoes with the added benefit that they can also be enjoyed raw. Peterson's Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants also recommends boiling thin sections briefly and pickling them in wine vinegar for a few weeks. This indigenous plants was once cultivated in Europe, a strange twist on the usual situation. |
| Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Blooms: August through October Native to: America Photo Location: I forgot. Probably in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. |