Amphicarpa brachteata or the Hog Peanut

[trixtrax]

Amphicarpa brachteata

This plant might be called the Hog Peanut, but it seems to fit for us human animals, too. This species comes from North America though there are species from Europe and Asia? According to reports I've read, the plant is a annual or short-lived perennial.

Nitrogen-fixing obviously have their wonderful uses in the garden and food forest settings. What makes this plant seem so useful is that I have read of its usefulness in various polyculture plant guilds. For instance, this website talks about a skirret/jostaberry/hog peanut plant guild.

communitysupportedforestry.com/Hog_Peanut.htm

It has the useful roles of covering the ground, fixing nitrogen, and yielding a modest amount of food.

I have read of its weediness, but still it seems it has a place in certain parts of the garden and berry orchards.

I have not been able to find too much information out on the web. Genetically, it seems that is not far off from Apios americana and Soya. By the way, does anyone know of any good genetic references for Fabaceae?

Here is a picture of the plant in all its glory.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amphicarpa_bracteata_-_hog_peanut_-_desc-foliage.jpg

Here is a little plant diagram. I especially really enjoy this woman's wonderfully alive plant drawings - she captures so much energy.
www.flickr.com/photos/longears/3939287200/

Report from PFAF.
www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Amphicarpaea+bracteata

Please share any stories or information about this plant. I'm all ears. Also, if anyone has any seed to trade I am very interested. Same goes for Lathyrus tuberosus (Earthnut) and Apios americana, other wonderful leguminous plants. I'll write a little blurb about those next.

[ottawagardener]

These is on my 'to try' list. I am growing Apios americana but so far I have had very little growth. A friend of mine grows it very successfully and it is quite beautiful. I am also interested in trying Lathyrus tuberosus. Wish I had some seeds / tubers to trade with you but maybe in the near future.

Thanks for the links.

[mybighair]

Seed for Amphicarpa brachteata and Lathyrus tuberosus are available from IPK Gatersleben (see link).

gbis.ipk-gatersleben.de/gbis_i/suche.jsf;jsessionid=c25e8cb8ce97e3b0e8b965f4e1ca818c7ddf6752f49

[ottawagardener]

Thanks bighair: We're moving next year so I'm trying hard not to buy any seed. There are some Canadian sources too if anyone is interested.

[stevil]

Hi Chris!

We had a discussion about this one here:

alanbishop.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=beans&thread=2190&page=1

Am looking to try again next year...

I should have enough tubers of Lathyrus tuberosus to send to you two if you remind me later.




Regards, Stephen

[ottawagardener]

The tubers are larger than I imagined. Pretty flowers.

[stevil]

The plate is a small one - 17cm across.....

[trixtrax]

Ottawagardner - could you post the Canadian links? I would be interested and I am sure others would be too.

[ottawagardener]

Sure.

Perennial Pleasures lists L. tuberosus which it calls Dutch Mice.
www.ediblelandscapes.ca/plantlist.html

Gardens North used to carry Hog Peanut but I see it's no longer listed. You might want to contact her. It was wild collected.

[orflo]

I have three varieties of hog peanut, including the one from Gatersleben. The peanuts are very nice to eat, and I plant them wherever I have big plants growing, in between the yacon , corn (that's an old tradition in Mexico: planting hog peanut or talet as they are called over there in between the corn), tree spinach, and so on. Harvest is a bit low, and you have to search for the seeds or peanuts. Every year I find that some plants pop up near the place where I did put them the year before, this can also be a few metres away... They do better in a semi-shade spot, even over here, but planting them between these big plants give them enough shade. They can grow in the sun however, but they don't become as big. The foliage covers quite a big space if they're happy, and other plants benifit from the nutrition...

[ottawagardener]

Sounds like a stellar idea Frank. I am hoping I trip over some when walking in the woods some day but so far that hasn't led to me finding too many plants. I do plan on getting some soon though. Speaking of which, not that I want to hijack this thread, but if anyone is ever looking for anything that grows wild near where I live, let me know. I'm often on the lookout and have a few friends with wild properties.

[ottawagardener]

Good to know that they are selling at Gardens North last I looked!

www.gardensnorth.com/site/

Under annuals.