VMS -- Botany (f33v) Sunchoke

[Dana Scott <dfscott@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

For various and sundry reasons I have decided, for the time being, to
agree with the possibility that the plant drawing in f33v is derived
from the Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Helianthus tuberosus
(Jerusalem artichoke). Since a sterile male hybrid of these two plants
has been developed (referred to as Sunchoke),

"...sunchoke is the name given to the hybrid with the jerusalem
artichoke..."
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Helianthus_annuus.html

I am willing to agree that, at least in the imagination of the VMS
scientist, the concept of a combined plant may have been imagined. I am
not saying that author of the VMS actually created a hybrid.  There have
been many arguments against the Sunflower identification, including
discussions concerning the tubers and leaves; however, in this case I am
impressed with the tubers being combined with what looks like a
sunflower. Take a look at the edge of the 'flower' (the Sunflower is
actually actually composed of many tiny flowers)  in the following
picture which matches very well with the drawing in the VMS where the
yellow lingulate is folded next to the word 'Disk').

http://www.botany.utoronto.ca/courses/BOT307/old/graphics/Helianth400TAD01.jpg

http://www.hm2.aitai.ne.jp/~nakanisi/himawari.jpg

So, though my inclination is not to want to do, for now I am accepting
the idea of some sort of a composite plant. I'll know more once I see a
hybrid. The tubers must be accepted (I don't see that they could have
been forged on after the original drawing) and admittedly look very much
like those of H. tuberosus.

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/hdwimages1/hdw057519.jpg

This of course throws a real wrench into possible dating of the VMS
(post 1492). It is not difficult to imagine samples reaching Europe for
scientific examination/study prior to 1600. Sir Walter Raleigh knew
about H. tuberosus in 1585.

"Sir Walter Raleigh found Native Americans cultivating sunroots in what
is now Virginia in 1585."
http://es.rice.edu/ES/humsoc/Galileo/Catalog/Files/dee.html

Dee assisted Sir Raleigh:
http://es.rice.edu/ES/humsoc/Galileo/Catalog/Files/dee.html
"He prepared, or helped to prepare, a considerable list of considerable
pilots, including Richard Chancellor, Stephen and William Borough,
Martin Frobisher, Humphrey Gilbert, John Davis, and Walter Raleigh."

If Dee and Kelly had their hands on the VMS, there is no telling what
machinations may have occurred.

Description:
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/artic065.html
http://www.gaiaresearch.co.za/college/book/a/artic065.html
http://ctr.uvm.edu/ctr/press/00pressn169.htm
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0826211.html
http://www.californiagardenclubs.com/HTML/artichoke.html
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch26.html
http://www.botanyworld.com/helianthus.html
http://www.herbalremedies-e.com/herb-a/artic.html
http://mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/pr/garten/schau/HelianthustuberosusL/Jer_choke.html

http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa102300a.htm?once=true&

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Helianthus_annuus.html
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/vege1.htm
http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Helianthus/index.html

http://www.floridata.com/ref/H/heli_tub.cfm
http://www.wegmans.com/kitchen/ingredients/produce/vegetables/sunchoke.asp

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MV012
http://www.tonytantillo.com/vegetables/jerusalem.html
http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/jerusale.htm
http://food.epicurious.com/run/fooddictionary/browse?entry_id=8744
http://msucares.com/lawn/garden/vegetables/list/artichoke.html

Sunflower/Jerusalem Artichoke hybrid (sunchoke):
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/vege1.htm

Tubers:
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images/sunchk2b.gif
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/images/523176221

Chemistry:
http://www.liquidagogo.com/pages/sunflowerseeds.htm

Herbal/Medicinal use:
http://www.alysia.net/herb_uses.htm

Anatomy:
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images/suflhd5.jpg


I will be the first to change my mind if I see a better solution.

Regards,
Dana Scott