Apios americana Medik.

Rhizomes with 2 or more tubers; stipules and stipellules minute, caducous; lfls of the principal lvs 5–7, lanceolate to ovate, 4–6 cm, glabrous to short-hairy beneath; racemes dense (or looser southward), with solitary or paired brown-purple fls 10–13 mm; standard broader than long, usually retuse; fr 5–10 cm; 2n=22, and perhaps 44. Moist woods; Que. to Minn. and S.D., s. to Fla. and Tex. July, Aug. (A. tuberosa; Glycine apios)

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist woods. It suits moist acid soils with a pH of 5 to 7. It needs a protected and partly shaded position. It suits hardiness zones 3-10.

The underground tubers and roots are eaten raw, boiled, fried or roasted. They can be added to soups, stews and casseroles. They are mashed and used in bread. The tubers can be boiled in maple syrup to make a preserve. The seeds are eaten. The pods can be roasted and eaten.

Plants can be grown from seed or tubers. Tubers need some cold treatment to break their dormancy.