SC - potatoes

[Decker, Terry D.]

Gerard was describing Solanum tuberosum (the white potato) which he called
Batata virginian sive Virginianorum et Pappus.  Considering the naming
convention, Gerard was either aware of the Spanish literature on potatoes or
was relating it to Ipomoea batatas, the sweet potato, or both.

Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) are a sunflower root as the name
girasol attests, being an archaic Italian word meaning sunflower.  I doubt
that Gerard and his fellow botanists confused the two tubers.

Not much was done with potatoes in the Colonies until the 18th Century, but
the Jerusalem artichoke was one of the chief survival foods for the
Jamestown colony.

Bear

> Arent girasols native to the american east coast? that would fit the
> bill of 'virginia potato"
> margali
> [yummmm, jerusalem artichoke-I wonder how they would be for latkes?]
> 
> 
> Bear said:
> Although Gerard described the "Viginia potato," it appears to have been
> a
> very recent import from South America, either left by Drake when he
> rescued
> the survivors of the Roanoke Colony during his return voyage to England
> after the sack of Cartegena (1586) or, more likely, brought to England
> by
> him, then re-introduced to Virginia in 1587 when Richard Grenville
> re-established the colony.
> 
> 
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