Groundnut, Apios americana Medik., Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Wild Bean

(Wild Bean, Indian Potato). A vine with pink to deep purple pea shaped 5-part flowers cluster together on short dense racemes that appear among the leaves. The petals of the flower characteristically have the upper petal round and colored white and reddish brown. The two side wings are curved down and are a brownish purple, the two lower petals are sickle shaped and brownish red. Five or more leaflets to a leaf, always an odd number, no tendrils. The plant produces edible tubers which grow from slender rhizomes. Groundnuts are a good source of carbohydrates and contain between 13 and 17 percent protein by dry weight - about three times as much as potatoes. The above ground fruit is a bean type pod containing several seeds. The plant has a history of human use. It can also be used as an ornamental, but can become invasive.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Groundnut	Apios americana Medik.	Pea	Woodland and Upland	Late Summer to Early Autumn
Other names and notes	(Wild Bean, Indian Potato). A vine with pink to deep purple pea shaped 5-part flowers cluster together on short dense racemes that appear among the leaves. The petals of the flower characteristically have the upper petal round and colored white and reddish brown. The two side wings are curved down and are a brownish purple, the two lower petals are sickle shaped and brownish red. Five or more leaflets to a leaf, always an odd number, no tendrils. The plant produces edible tubers which grow from slender rhizomes. Groundnuts are a good source of carbohydrates and contain between 13 and 17 percent protein by dry weight - about three times as much as potatoes. The above ground fruit is a bean type pod containing several seeds. The plant has a history of human use. It can also be used as an ornamental, but can become invasive.