Taxon: Apios americana Medik.

Summary

Genus:

Apios

Family:

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)

Subfamily:

Faboideae

Tribe:

Phaseoleae

Nomen number:

310730

Place of publication:

Vorles. Churpfälz. Phys.-Öcon. Ges. 2:355. 1787

Comment:

a replacement name (nom. nov.) for Glycine apios L.

Verified:

12/11/2009 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

1 (1 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Apios tuberosa Moench
Glycine apios L.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Belamkar, V. et al. 2015. Evaluation of phenotypic variation in a collection of Apios americana: an edible tuberous legume. Crop Sci. (Madison) 55:712-726.
Belamkar, V. et al. 2016. Genomics-assisted characterization of a breeding collection of Apios americana, an edible tuberous legume. Sci. Rep. 6:34908. DOI: 10.1038/srep34908. www.nature.com/srep/
Blackmon, W. J. & B. D. Reynolds. 1994. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Tuberous Legumes. 237-248.
Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
Joly, S. & A. Bruneau. 2004. Evolution of triploidy in Apios americana (Leguminosae) revealed by genealogical analysis of the histone H3-D gene. Evolution 58:284-295.
Kalberer, S. et al. 2020. Apios americana: natural history and ethnobotany. Legume Perspect. 19:29-32.
Li, J. et al. 2014. Phylogenetics and biogeography of Apios (Fabaceae) inferred from sequences of nuclear and plastid genes. Int. J. Pl. Sci. 175:764-780. DOI: 10.1086/676972.
Li, Y. et al. 2021. Apios americana Medicus: a potential staple food candidate with versatile bioactivities. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 112:735-752. DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.04.038. Note: several common uses of local consumption
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
National Academy of Sciences. 1979. Tropical legumes: resources for the future
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Seabrook, J. A. E. & L. A. Dione. 1976. Studies on the genus Apios. I. Chromosome number and distribution of Apios americana and A. priceana. Canad. J. Bot. 54:2567-2572.
Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: cultivated
Wetter, M. A. et al. WISFLORA: Wisconsin vascular plant species (on-line resource).
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
Woods, M. 1988. A revision of Apios and Cochlianthus (Leguminosae). Unpublished dissertation (Southern Illinois University) 26.
Woods, M. 2005. A revision of the North American species of Apios (Fabaceae). Castanea 70:85-100.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	American potato-bean	1	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
English	apios	1	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
English	ground-bean	1	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
English	groundnut	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	wild bean	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
French	gland de terre	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	Erdbirne	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Italian	troque	2	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Spanish	apio tuberoso	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedish	potatisböna	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	New Brunswick		Woods, M. 1988. A revision of Apios and Cochlianthus (Leguminosae). Unpublished dissertation (Southern Illinois University) 26.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Nova Scotia		Woods, M. 1988. A revision of Apios and Cochlianthus (Leguminosae). Unpublished dissertation (Southern Illinois University) 26.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario	s.	Woods, M. 1988. A revision of Apios and Cochlianthus (Leguminosae). Unpublished dissertation (Southern Illinois University) 26.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec	s.	Woods, M. 1988. A revision of Apios and Cochlianthus (Leguminosae). Unpublished dissertation (Southern Illinois University) 26.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas	n.e.	Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma	e.	Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota	e.	Woods, M. 1988. A revision of Apios and Cochlianthus (Leguminosae). Unpublished dissertation (Southern Illinois University) 26.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		Wetter, M. A. et al. WISFLORA: Wisconsin vascular plant species (on-line resource).
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Rhode Island		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado	n.-c.	Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Delaware		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	District of Columbia		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)

Native
Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec (s.), Nova Scotia, Ontario (s.), New Brunswick]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (n.e.), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma (e.), South Dakota (e.), Wisconsin]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado (n.-c.)]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas]

Reference(s)

Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
Wetter, M. A. et al. WISFLORA: Wisconsin vascular plant species (on-line resource).
Woods, M. 1988. A revision of Apios and Cochlianthus (Leguminosae). Unpublished dissertation (Southern Illinois University) 26.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Human food	beverage base	potential	Li, Y. et al. 2021. Apios americana Medicus: a potential staple food candidate with versatile bioactivities. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 112:735-752. DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.04.038. Note: several common uses of local consumption
Human food	starch	potential	Li, Y. et al. 2021. Apios americana Medicus: a potential staple food candidate with versatile bioactivities. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 112:735-752. DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.04.038. Note: several common uses of local consumption
Human food	vegetable	potential	Blackmon, W. J. & B. D. Reynolds. 1994. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Tuberous Legumes. 237-248.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=310730. Accessed 12 May 2026.