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Apios americana Medikus. Common name: Common Groundnut. Phenology: Jun-Aug; Jul-Sep. Habitat: Marshes (tidal and non-tidal), wet thickets, streambanks, bottomland forests. Distribution: NS, NB, and QC west to MN and SD, south to s. FL and TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, Fl3, FNA11.1, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, SE3, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Isely (1998), Woods (2005); = Apios apios (L.) MacMill. — S13, name invalid (a tautonym); = Glycine apios L. — S; > Apios americana Medik. var. americana — F, G; > Apios americana Medik. var. turrigera Fernald — F, G. Basionym: Apios americana Medik. 1787 "Urbasionym:" Glycine apios L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Apios americana - FNA11.1

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Twining herbaceous perennial vine found in marshes (tidal and non-tidal), wet thickets, bottomland forests and along stream banks.

Stems: Stems twining and climbing over other plants, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, 4-8 in. long and divided into 5-7 oval to lance-shaped leaflets, each up to about 2 in. long and smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in dense, raceme-like clusters (to 6 in. long) from leaf axils; maroon, about 1/2 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric and of typical pea-flower shape, with a folded pinkish-brown "banner" petal, 2 maroon wing petals, and a twisted, maroon keel petal; fragrant.

Fruits: Fruit a green pod.

Comments: Underground tubers of this species are very nutritious; they were a staple crop of Native Americans and also helped early European settlers survive their first years in the new world. Along with other legumes, this is a host plant for the Silver-spotted skipper.

Height: to 12 ft.

plant sale text: Groundnut is a twining perennial vine in the legume family that has beautiful maroon flowers reminiscent of those of wisteria. The underground tubers of groundnut are very nutritious and were a staple crop of the Native Americans and also helped the early European settlers survive their first years in the new world. Groundnut prefers moist woods and riverbanks, and it can spread vigorously in ideal conditions. This plant along with other legumes is the host plant for the Silver-spotted skipper. The seeds and the fleshy fruits are also eaten by birds and other animals.

bloom table text:

description: Twining herbaceous perennial vine found in marshes (tidal and non-tidal), wet thickets, bottomland forests and along stream banks.

stems: Stems twining and climbing over other plants, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, 4-8 in. long and divided into 5-7 oval to lance-shaped leaflets, each up to about 2 in. long and smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in dense, raceme-like clusters (to 6 in. long) from leaf axils; maroon, about 1/2 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric and of typical pea-flower shape, with a folded pinkish-brown "banner" petal, 2 maroon wing petals, and a twisted, maroon keel petal; fragrant.

fruits: Fruit a green pod.

comments: Underground tubers of this species are very nutritious; they were a staple crop of Native Americans and also helped early European settlers survive their first years in the new world. Along with other legumes, this is a host plant for the Silver-spotted skipper.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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