Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 375 



JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tubero- 

 sus) is, like the Common Sunflower, a valuable spe- 

 cies, and one that is often cultivated because of its 

 edible roots, these being tender and of good flavor; 

 they are eaten raw or cooked. Their value as articles 

 of food was first discovered by Indians and by them 

 imparted to our early colonists. The name Jerusa- 

 lem, in connection with this plant, is a corruption 

 from the name applied to the species by Italians, (Gir- 

 asole Articocco), meaning sunflower artichoke. 



It is a handsome plant, the stout, leafy, hairy stalk 

 growing from 3 to 12 feet tall and being topped with 

 several large showy flowers. The large, three-vein- 

 ed leaves are hairy and have toothed margins. They 

 are chiefly set oppositely on the stem, although some 

 of the upper ones may alternate. The several flower 

 heads are large, measuring up to three inches across. 

 The central florets are greenish yellow and are sur- 

 rounded by from 12 to 24 long, golden-yellow rays. 



This species is often also known as the Canada 

 Potato and the Earth Apple. Its range extends from 

 southern Canada southwards nearly to the Gulf. 



TALL or GIANT SUNFLOWER (Helianthus gigan- 



teus) is a very tall species with a rough, ruddy stem 

 from 2 to 10 feet tall, growing from perennial creep- 

 ing, tuberous roots. The leaves are rather coarse, 

 rough, bright green, toothed, nearly stemless and 

 usually alternating along the stem. The stem 

 branches at the summit and bears several large flow- 

 er heads from 2 to 3 inches across. The yellowish- 

 green disc is surrounded by from 10 to 20 neutral, 

 golden rays. The Tall Sunflower is common in 

 swamps and on the borders of wet woods from New 

 England to Minn, and southwards. 



