Common name: Jerusalem Artichoke
Helianthus tuberosus L. APNI* 
Description: Erect perennial herb with short rhizomes and tubers, 1.5–3 m high; stems hirsute or pubescent, branched above.
Leaves ovate to lanceolate, 3–20 cm long, 5–8 cm wide, margins toothed, lamina 3-veined, upper surface scabrous, lower surface pubescent; upper leaves opposite, becoming shortly petiolate, smaller and narrower.
Heads several or numerous; heads 5–8 cm diam.; involucral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, hirsute or ciliate on the margins; receptacle scales acute and hairy at apex. Ray florets yellow; ligules 3–4 cm long. Disc florets yellow.
Achenes narrow-obovoid, 4–6 mm long, hairy towards apex; pappus of 2–5 laciniate scales.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: A minor weed along roadsides and in wasteland near habitation, not common, possibly naturalized in the Sydney, Hay and Orange districts. Native of N & S Amer.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *NWS, *CWS, *SWP
Other Australian states: *W.A.
Frequently cultivated for its edible tubers.
Text by L. Murray
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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