Jerusalem artichoke is a multi branched herbaceous perennial native to eastern United States and Mexico. Even though it is nutty in taste it is found used in number of food recipes and is extremely rich in important nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
| Name | Jerusalem artichoke |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Helianthus tuberosus |
| Native | Eastern United States and Mexico |
| Common/English Name | Earth Apple, Woodland Sunflower Girasole, Topinambur,Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunflower Artichoke, Jerusalem sunflower, Sunroot, Sunchoke, Canada Potato |
| Name in Other Languages | Arabic : Tartűf Turkish : Beyaz Yer Elmasi Norwegian : Jordskokk Russian : Topinambur Chinese : Ju Qian Slovencina : Slnečnica hľuznatá Italian : Carciofo Di Terra Danish : Jordskok Swedish : Jordärtskocka Dutch : Aardaartisjok Esperanto : Helianto tubera Finnish : Maa-Artisokka Vietnamese : Cúc Vu Spanish : Aguaturma Korean : Ttung Dahn Ji Portuguese : Girassol-batateiro French : Artichaut De Jérusalem German : Erdbirne Czech : Slunečnice topinambur Welsh : Artisiog Jerwsalem Japanese : Kiku Imo Polish : Słonecznik bulwiasty Slovašcina : Laška Brazil : Batata-Tupinambá Hungarian : Csicsóka Thai : Thantawan-Hua Estonian : Maapim India : Suurajamuu ( Hindi ) |
| Plant Growth Habit | Multi branched herbaceous perennial |
| Growing Climate | Sub-zero to hot temperatures |
| Soil | Best in friable, moderately well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. |
| Plant Size | 1.5–3 m high |
| Root | Fibrous roots with thin cord-like rhizomes (horizontal underground stems) that grow as long as 50 inches. |
| Root Shape & Size | Knobby, round clusters, elongated and uneven, ranging in size from 7.5 to 10 cm long, 3–5 cm thick, with nodes, internodes and eyes and vaguely resembling ginger root. |
| Root Color | Pale brown to white, red and purple |
| Flesh Color | White |
| Flavor/Aroma | Nutty, artichoke-like |
| Taste | sweet nutty taste |
| Stem | Grows as tall as 12 feet, and are stout, rough, hairy, ridged. Stems can become woody over time. |
| Leaf | Opposite (2 leaves per node) on the lower part of the stem, and alternate (1 leaf per node) near the top of the stem. Leaves are 4 to 10 inches long and nearly heart-shaped with a broad oval base and pointed tip. The thick leaves have 3 distinct main veins, coarsely-toothed margins, and attach to the stem by way of a winged stalk (petiole). The upper leaf surface has coarse hairs while the lower surface has soft hairs. |
| Flowering Season | August to October |
| Flower | Yellow and produced in capitate flowerheads, which are 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) in diameter, with 10–20 ray florets and 60 or more small disc florets. |
| Fruit | Cypselae 5–7 mm, glabrous or distally hairy; pappi with 2 aristate scales and 0–1 deltoid scales. |
| Seed | Smooth, wedge-shaped, and gray or brown with black mottling. |
| Season | March and May |
| Varieties/Types | Fuseau, Dwarf Sunray |
| Major Nutrition | Iron, Fe 5.1 mg (63.75%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 0.3 mg (25.00%) Copper, Cu 0.21 mg (23.33%) Carbohydrate 26.16 g (20.12%) Phosphorus, P 117 mg (16.71%) Potassium, K 644 mg (13.70%) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1.95 mg (12.19%) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) 0.596 mg (11.92%) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.116 mg (8.92%) Choline 45 mg (8.18%) |
| Health Benefits |
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| Calories in 1cup (100gm) | 110 Kcal |