Potato plant
Scientific Name: Solanum tuberosum
Category: plant
Brief Description
A herbaceous perennial plant in the nightshade family, grown primarily for its edible starchy underground tubers.
Characteristics
Opposite, pinnate leaves with large and small leaflets intermingled. Stems are herbaceous and often slightly angled. Produces small white to purple flowers with five petals and yellow centers.
Habitat
Cultivated in agricultural fields and home gardens. Requires well-drained, loose, organic soil and full sun.
When to Find It
Grown as an annual in most climates; typically planted in spring and harvested in late summer or autumn.
Conservation Status
N/A
Ecological Role
A major global food crop. While the leaves are toxic to many mammals, they support specific insects like the Colorado potato beetle.
Easily Confused With
Tomato plants and bittersweet nightshade. Potatoes are distinguished by their larger, rounder leaflets and the development of underground tubers.
Observation Tips
Look for the characteristic pinnate leaves and small star-shaped flowers. The plant often begins to yellow and die back when the tubers are ready for harvest.
Interesting Facts
Potatoes are the fourth largest food crop in the world. Despite their ubiquity, all green parts of the plant (leaves, stems, and sun-exposed tubers) contain the toxin solanine and are poisonous if consumed.