jerusalem artichoke

Jerusalem artichoke
    n 1: edible tuber of the Jerusalem artichoke
    2: tall perennial with hairy stems and leaves; widely cultivated
       for its large irregular edible tubers [syn: {Jerusalem
       artichoke}, {girasol}, {Jerusalem artichoke sunflower},
       {Helianthus tuberosus}]
    3: sunflower tuber eaten raw or boiled or sliced thin and fried
       as Saratoga chips [syn: {Jerusalem artichoke}, {sunchoke}]
    

Jerusalem \Je*ru"sa*lem\ (j[-e]*r[udd]"s[.a]*l[e^]m), n. [Gr.
   'Ieroysalh`m, fr. Heb. Y[e^]r[=u]sh[=a]laim.]
   The chief city of Palestine, intimately associated with the
   glory of the Jewish nation, and the life and death of Jesus
   Christ.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Jerusalem artichoke} [Perh. a corrupt. of It. girasole i.e.,
      sunflower, or turnsole. See {Gyre}, {Solar}.] (Bot.)
   (a) An American plant, a perennial species of sunflower
       ({Helianthus tuberosus}), whose tubers are sometimes used
       as food.
   (b) One of the tubers themselves.

   {Jerusalem cherry} (Bot.), the popular name of either of two
      species of {Solanum} ({Solanum Pseudo-capsicum} and
      {Solanum capsicastrum}), cultivated as ornamental house
      plants. They bear bright red berries of about the size of
      cherries.

   {Jerusalem oak} (Bot.), an aromatic goosefoot ({Chenopodium
      Botrys}), common about houses and along roadsides.

   {Jerusalem sage} (Bot.), a perennial herb of the Mint family
      ({Phlomis tuberosa}).

   {Jerusalem thorn} (Bot.), a spiny, leguminous tree
      ({Parkinsonia aculeata}), widely dispersed in warm
      countries, and used for hedges.

   {The New Jerusalem}, Heaven; the Celestial City.
      [1913 Webster]