[MPWG] Seeking volunteers for groundnut collection

Tue Sep 25 10:49:26 CDT 2007

Drs. Mario Morales (Director, Medicinal Botanicals Program) and Joyce 
Foster (Research Biochemist, USDA, Agricultural Research Service) are 
seeking volunteers to help collect groundnut 
(Apios americana) seed pods and tubers.  Groundnut is native to the 
eastern region of the USA and is being looked at for its good nutritional 
value and possible use as forage for domesticated animals!  See attached 
flyers and contact info, below.

-Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural 
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

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Field Collection of Apios americana (groundnut)

DESCRIPTION: Apios americana, groundnut, is a slender, climbing, perennial 
native counter-clockwise twining vine 1 to 6 meters in length with 
alternate, odd-pinnately compound leaves that may consist of 3-9 pointed 
ovate leaflets, but typically five to seven leaflets, that are usually 2.5 
to 7.5 cm. in length. Apios flowers are rather large, numerous, usually 
pink to purplish or brownish-purple-red and fragrant. Flowers are usually 
about 12 millimeters long and occur in compact racemes 75 to 130 
millimeters long. The flowers are distinct in having a relatively large 
concave standard with a small hood at its apex into which the 
narrow-sickle shaped keel is hooked. Flowering occurs from July to 
September and the resulting seed is a many seeded linear legume pod 5 to 
11 cm. long. When supporting vegetation is available, Apios may climb to a 
height of 2 m. Tubers are produced near the soil surface on rhizomes. 
Rhizomes may extend to a length of 2 meters or greater and several tubers 
may be produced along the length of the rhizome similar to a “string of 
pearls”. The photographs below should assist with proper field 
identification.

Typical Apios americana foliage and flower
[Had to be deleted as the file size was too large; \see: 
http://www.mountainstate.edu/usda/newsletters/PDF/08-2007.pdf]
Line drawing of typical Apios americana, groundnut, tubers
[Had to be deleted as the file size was too large; contact John 
Vandevender for info.]
WHERE USUALLY FOUND: Apios americana is distributed in eastern North 
America from southern Florida to Nova Scotia west through southern Canada 
to southeastern Manitoba, southwest to eastern Colorado and south to 
southern Texas. The primary habitat for Apios is in wet soils along 
creeks, rivers and lakes, where it may often form dense colonies. Please 
refer to the attached PLANTS Database generated state maps for the known 
county level distribution of Apios.  Individual state maps which 
illustrate the known distribution of Apios by county are available at:  
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=APAM&photoID=apam_003_ahp.tif
Reminders:  Obtain landowner's permission to collect from private 
property.  Obtain a permit to collect on Forest Service land.  No 
collecting is allowed on Park Service land.  Some states have specific 
regulations regarding the collection of native plants material, so please 
check with the Dept. of Natural Resources or Dept. of Agriculture, 
whichever entity handles plants in your state, before collecting. 
WHAT TO COLLECT: Collect 2 to 3 foot sections of rhizome with attached 
tubers from at least 10 plants throughout the colony, but do not deplete 
the stand’s potential for continued regeneration. Also, collect enough 
stem and leaf material to fill a quart sized plastic storage bag. If 
available, include a quantity of mature seed pods (up to 20 pods per 
collection). Collect enough soil to fill a second quart sized plastic bag 
from each site. Complete an NRCS-ECS-580 Plant Collection Form and the 
supplemental observed traits sheet for each collection made. Include GPS 
coordinates for the collection site, where feasible, and provide good 
directions on how to find the site, so someone unfamiliar with the area 
could locate the collection site, if needed. Write these directions on the 
back of the NRCS-ECS-580 Form.
WHEN TO COLLECT: Collect rhizomes, vegetative material and soil only after 
positively identifying the plant. This means that collections should be 
made mid to late summer or early fall. Dormant rhizome and tuber 
collections may be requested at a future date.
HOW TO HANDLE COLLECTION: Wrap the collected vegetative material in 
plastic (a suitable sized plastic bag will suffice) with a few (2-3) 
moistened paper towels and place all collected materials and the completed 
collection form in a box for shipping.  Contact Joyce G. Foster, USDA, 
ARS, Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center, 304-256-2809, 
joyce.foster at ars.usda,gov to obtain a FedEx account number.  Ship 
materials by FedEx for NEXT DAY DELIVERY to:
John Vandevender
USDA-NRCS 
Alderson Plant Materials Center 
Old Prison Farm Road, County Route 3/29
 Alderson, WV 24910
304-445-3005
John.Vandevender at wv.usda.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 
Dr. Joyce G. Foster
Research Biochemist
USDA, Agricultural Research Service
Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center
1224 Airport Road
Beaver, WV  25813-9423
Voice: (304) 256-2809
Fax:  (304) 256-2921
E-mail:  Joyce.Foster at ars.usda.gov 

Dr. Mario R. Morales, Director 
Medicinal Botanicals Program 
Mountain State University 
P.O. Box 9003 
Beckley, WV 25802-9003 

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