Identity of Invasive Vine

[carole]

Originally Posted by Chickie

I have been trying to identify a vine, which has been growing wild on my property for several years. It is rather invasive and can climb as much as ten feet up a tree. It has lavender (mauve) flowers, which look like small pine cones, are about 1–2 inches in diameter and bloom in August. They have a rather unpleasant fragrance, which tends to permeate the whole area when in bloom. The leaves are elongated, with smooth edges and grow in five to seven clusters along the stem.

Can anyone help me put a name to this stuff?

Groundnut perhaps? Google 'apios americana' for some pictures and info.

[Chickie]

Carole: That’s it - Groundnut or apios americana. A Google search provided photos and a wealth of information about it. Without a doubt it is what is growing in my backyard.

I learned that it produces underground tubers, which are edible and has the potential for becoming a common food source in the future. Who would have known? It apparently can be substituted for potatoes, but has more protein. Henceforth I will treat it with reverence and may even give up my yearly crusade to eradicate it from my property.

Here is one of the sites I found most enlightening:
http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/con.../groundnt.html

Thanks, Carole and those who took the time to post replies. I really do appreciate it. The mystery is finally solved.

[LadyJane]

[I don't know that you could call groundnut an invasive. Been here a long time...the Pilgrims depended on them as a food source.
But there is a problem with invasive species everywhere. The little lake I live on in northern Ct. was recently treated for invasive aquatic plants. Expensive.
I was up this week and saw much more milfoil in the harbor in Meredith as well as stray loosestrife here and there. Japanese knowtweed by the roadside is everywhere.