Jerusalem artichoke
Yacón is sometimes confused with the unrelated plant "jícama" "(Pachyrhizus erosus)", which is a bean, as yacón is commonly called "jícama" in Ecuador. Yacón, in contrast, is a close relative of the sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke. Unlike many other root vegetables domesticated by the indigenous peoples of the Andes (ulluco, oca and mashua), yacón is not photoperiod sensitive and can produce a commercial yield in the subtropics, as well.