File:Topinambur Helianthus tuberosus.jpg

1. <a href="http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Topinambur" rel="nofollow">Topinambur - Jerusalem Artichoke</a>

2. <a href="http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Topinambur" rel="nofollow">Topinambur - Jerusalem artichoke</a>

Pyramid scheme ... (short excerpt from <a href="http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Topinambur" rel="nofollow">2</a>.)

In the 1980s, the Jerusalem artichoke also gained some notoriety when its seeds were planted by midwestern US farmers at the prodding of an agricultural pyramid scheme. There was little market for the tuber in that part of the US at the time, but farmers were assured that it would soon appear on the commodities market. Unfortunately, the only profits were realized by the initial distributors and the first few levels of farmers (who sold their seeds to subsequent levels of the pyramid). As a result many of the farms which had planted large quantities of the crop were ruined.[9][10][11] - - An other interesting excerpt from <a href="http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Topinambur" rel="nofollow">2</a>. ... Unlike most tubers, but in common with other members of the Asteraceae (including the artichoke), the tubers store the carbohydrate inulin (not to be confused with insulin) instead of starch. For this reason, Jerusalem artichoke tubers are an important source of fructose for industry.[citation needed] The crop yields are high, typically 16–20 tonnes/ha for tubers, and 18–28 tonnes/ha green weight for foliage. Jerusalem artichoke also has a great deal of unused potential as a producer of ethanol fuel, using inulin-adapted strains of yeast for fermentation.[2] ...