Ground apples?

The title may suggest that late Jerusalem artichokes must be one of the vegetables that have stirred up much confusion by their name and use in history. The vegetable is actually the tuber of a pretty yellow flower from the sunflower family, which is native to North America and Canada. Like peppers, potatoes and tomatoes, it is a gift of the Columbian exchange to the cuisines of the old world. In 1607, it was first brought to Europe from Nova Scotia, Canada by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain.
 
Because the flower of the plant turns towards the sunlight, the Italians called it "girasole articocco," meaning "sunflower artichoke." To them it resembled the sunflower, "girasole," and tasted similar to artichokes. The English name Jerusalem artichoke is an alteration of this Italian name, having nothing to do with either Jerusalem or actual artichokes. For the Germans it was more likened to apples, thus called Erdäpfel, meaning ground apples. The Germans are good at making the most of fruits, especially potent spirits like schnapps, so it came naturally to them to make a brandy with this new apple! The specialty of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany is called Erdäpfler or Topinambur or just Topi. The latter two names are from their French neighbors, who preferred to call the new vegetable by the exotic name "topinambur," referring to the Brazilian tribe Topinambá. This again, like the Jerusalem connection, was a mere mistake dating back to 17th century, when a representative of the tribe was visiting the Vatican and the Pope was first introduced to samples of the tuber. Both were regarded as exotic visitors and the connection was made instantaneously. Following the Papal influence, the Italians, French, Spanish, Romanians and Russians adopted the name....