Family Fabaceae/Leguminosae

Groundnut, also known as Indian potato, hopniss, and American potato bean, as well as a long list of other aliases, is a perennial vine native to eastern North America. The small, crunchy tuber was a staple food of Native Americans, who introduced it to New England colonists. Groundnuts can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried and ground into flour. They are nutrient rich, with about three times as much protein as potatoes, and though they can be gathered throughout the year, they are best when harvested from late fall through early spring. The groundnut is one of many heirloom plant species that is now being developed for domestication.