Apios Explained

Apios is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. It contains seven species of perennial climbing herbs or scandent shrubs. Several members of this genus are known to have edible, tuberous roots.

Apios species are native to eastern North America, from eastern Canada through the eastern and Central United States, and to eastern and southeastern Asia, from the Himalayas through Indochina, China, Korea, and Japan, from approximately 50° to 20° north latitude.^[1]

The name "Apios" comes from the Greek word for "pear" and may refer the pear shape of some tubers.

Species

Seven species are accepted:

• Apios americana – eastern Canada and eastern and central United States
• Apios carnea (Wall.) Benth. ex Baker – Himalayas, Indochina, and China
• Apios chendezhaoana – southeastern China
• Apios delavayi Franch. – south-central China
  • Apios delavayi var. delavayi
  • Apios delavayi var. gracillima
• Apios fortunei Maxim. – China, Korea, and Japan
• Apios marcantha Oliv. – eastern Tibet and south-central China
• Apios priceana B.L.Rob. – east-central United States

Notes and References

1. Seabrook. Janet E.A.. A Biosystematic Study of the Genus Apios Fabricius (Leguminosae) with Special Reference to Apios americana Medikus. M.Sc. . University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB. 1973.