Apios Fortunei
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''Apios fortunei'', commonly known as hodo, hodoimo, groundnut, or potatobean, is a tuber-forming member of the Bean
family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
. It is a native plant of Eastern China and Japan. It is one of three species in the genus ''Apios'' that are known to produce edible tubers, although it has generally been considered an emergency, or famine food or medicinal plant. A study done on the chemical composition of the tubers found that starch was the predominant carbohydrate, although smaller amounts of sucrose and glucose were found and almost no fructose was found. In the wild, ''Apios fortunei'' is often found near brooks. ''Apios fortunei'' is a perennial climbing vine. The leaves are pinnate with 3-7 leaflets and are ovate or lanceolate in shape, 3–7 cm long. Flowers have been variously described as whitish-green, light yellowish-green with a red purple edge on the wing petal, or sulphurous green with rosy wing petals. The flowers form pseudoracemes or terminal panicles, 6–26 cm long. The flowers are showy and have ornamental potential. Legume fruits are linear, 7–8 cm long and 5–6 mm wide.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10927658 Phaseoleae Flora of China Flora of Japan