ON NEW FOOD PLANTS 



is likely to be more extensively propagated when 

 its merits are understood. 



THE WILD ARTICHOKE 



Another member of the sunflower family is 

 popularly known as the Jerusalem artichoke, the 

 name having originated, it is said, in a Spanish 

 nickname, amplified to suggest the relationship of 

 the plant to the artichoke just described, which is 

 sometimes spoken of as the Globe artichoke. 



The Jerusalem artichoke belongs to the genus 

 Helianthus, of which there are numerous species, 

 some of them growing wild in California. It is 

 entirely distinct from the true artichoke, both in 

 growth, appearance, and the purposes for which 

 it is used. 



The part of this plant that is sometimes used 

 as food is not the flower bud but a tuber not very 

 remotely suggestive of a potato. 



The plants of this tribe are variable, as is usual 

 with plants represented by many species. Some of 

 them bloom abundantly when only six to twelve 

 inches in height, while others grow to a height of 

 ten to fifteen feet. They have very large, broad, 

 heavy leaves, and some of them produce sunflow- 

 er-like blossoms of enormous size. 



Others have small, delicate, slender foliage, and 

 produce small flowers. 



The flowers are yellow, the tubers are usually 



[187] 



