Jerusalem artichokes are indeed a root, or a tuber to be precise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichoke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_art

Jerusalem artichokes are indeed a root, or a tuber to be precise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichoke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichoke They're not closely related to globe artichokes, which is perhaps what you were thinking of. Jerusalem artichokes are a kind of sunflower, and globe artichokes are a kind of thistle.