キクイモの和名の由来は花がキクに似ていてイモができるから。秋に黄色い花が咲き、地中に塊茎を作ります。塊茎は多糖類イヌリンが豊富。
The origin of the Japanese name of Jerusalem artichoke is that the flowers resemble Kiku (mum) and the Imo (tubers) are formed. Yellow flowers bloom in autumn, forming tubers in the ground. The tubers are rich in the polysaccharide inulin.
【仮名】キクイモ, アメリカイモ, ブタイモ
【和名】菊芋, 豚芋
【英名】Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunchoke, Topinambur
【学名】Helianthus tuberosus
【誕生】09/ 26
【開花】09, 10月
【花色】Yellow
キクイモ
キクイモの分布
キクイモはキク科ヒマワリ属の多年草。原産地は北米で、先住民の栽培種が欧州人によって世界各地に移入されました。日本にも江戸時代末期に伝来し、飼料用作物として全国に拡大。原産地にちなんで「アメリカイモ」、飼料用作物にちなんで「ブタイモ」といった別名もあります。
キクイモの和名
キクイモの和名の由来は花が菊に似ていて芋ができるから。秋に黄色い花が咲き、地中に塊茎を作ります。茎や葉に小さな刺があり、旺盛に繁殖。日本では第二次世界大戦中に食用として栽培され、のちに野生化しました。花が似ている「キクイモモドキ」も同じく北米原産の外来種。
キクイモの英名
キクイモの英名は「エルサレム・アーティチョーク」ですが、イスラエルのエルサレムとは関係ありません。 もともと花がヒマワリに、味がアーティチョークに似ていることから、イタリアで「ジラソーレ・アルティチョッコ」と呼称。このGirasoleがJerusalemへと転じたようです。
キクイモの利用
キクイモの塊茎は多糖類イヌリンを豊富に含有。イヌリンはデンプンのように消化器官で分解されたりせず、ビフィズス菌など人体に有益な腸内細菌の栄養源になります。そこで塊茎を煮たり、炒めたり、漬けたり、お茶や顆粒などに加工。健康機能食品として利用が広がっています。
Jerusalem Artichoke
Distribution of Jerusalem artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Sunflower in the family Asteraceae. Originating in North America, indigenous cultivated species have been imported by Europeans around the world. It was introduced to Japan at the end of the Edo period and expanded nationwide as a feed crop. There are also other names such as “American potato” after the place of origin and “Butaimo” after the feed crop.
Japanese name of Jerusalem artichoke
The origin of the Japanese name of Jerusalem artichoke is that the flowers resemble chrysanthemums and potatoes are formed. Yellow flowers bloom in autumn, forming tubers in the ground. It has small spines on its stems and leaves and breeds vigorously. In Japan, it was cultivated for food during World War II and later became wild. “Kikuimo Modoki”, which has similar flowers, is also an exotic species native to North America.
English name of Jerusalem artichoke
The English name of Jerusalem artichoke is “Jerusalem Artichoke”, but it has nothing to do with Jerusalem in Israel. Originally called “girasole artichoke” in Italy because the flowers are similar to sunflowers and the taste is similar to artichokes. It seems that this Girasole has turned to Jerusalem.
Use of Jerusalem artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke tubers are rich in the polysaccharide inulin. Inulin is not decomposed in the digestive organs like starch, and is a nutrient source for intestinal bacteria such as bifidobacteria that are beneficial to the human body. There, the tubers are boiled, stir-fried, pickled, and processed into tea or granules. It is widely used as a health functional food.
