Helianthus tuberosus

Botanical Description

Helianthus tuberosus is an erect herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it can grow 50 - 200cm or more tall, spreading to form large clumps[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. Jerusalem artichokes were a common food for the Native Americans, and are sometimes cultivated as a food crop, especially in Europe. It is still harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. Often cultivated as a food crop in Europe, the plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized through most of Europe and also in many other temperate regions of the world.The plant is classified as 'W' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].