Hopniss and Hog-Peanut | Greenbelt Indigenous Botanical Survey

Hopniss and Hog-Peanut

Apios americana Medik. and Amphicarpaea bracteata (L.) Fernald

Leguminoseae (Fabaceae)

Hog-peanut growing in Cootes Paradise, photo credit J. Dolan 2022

Names and Their Meanings

Hopniss - Apios americana Medik.

English

Hopniss

Kanienʼkéha

ohnana:ta, ohnenna'ta'ón:we “a potato”

French

Apios d'Amérique, patate en chapelet

Hog Peanut - Amphicarpaea bracteata

Kanienʼkéha

yohso'kwa'a

Anishinaabemowin

bagwadj'miskodi'simin

French

arachide, cacahuète, cacahouète, pois de terre, amphicarpe bractéolée

Hopniss/ Groundnut root, the “potato” that is harvested for food, harvested and photographed by Andre Strongbearheart Gaines, Jr. 2023

Hog-peanut growing in Cootes Paradise, photo credit J. Dolan 2022

Hopniss/ Groundut beans, photo credit Andre Strongbearheart Gaines, Jr. 2023

Hog-peanut herbarium specimen, collected at Pottageville Swamp by Yu Zhao Ni, David Botcherby, and Joy Amyotte 2022

Another view of hog-peanut, photo credit YZ Ni 2022

Hopniss

Description

We have included these together, because these two roots can be confused for one-another as food sources. The groundnut or hopniss is an abundant and widely-used tuber food by Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, as well as Indigenous peoples throughout its native range, which is from Gaspesie to Florida, and west past the Great Lakes. Hog-peanut is also a food source, albeit much smaller in size and less-often used in food. The Kanyen'kéha names reveal this distinction: the hopniss is like a potato, while the hog-peanut is like a peanut!

Conservation Status

Conservation status for both species, in Ontario and New York S5 (Secure), and Québec S4 (Apparently Secure)

Hog Peanut

Conservation Status

Conservation status, both species, in Ontario and New York S5 (Secure), and Québec S4 (Apparently Secure)