Potato
Solanum tuberosum
Synonyms: Parmentiera edulis, Solanum andigenum f. ccompis, Solanum diemii, Solanum tuberosum f. milagro, Solanum stenotomum var. megalocalyx, Solanum tenuifilamentum, Solanum stenotomum var. zapallo, Solanum tuberosum var. elegans, Solanum tuberosum var. norfolcicum, Solanum tuberosum f. barmacata, Solanum rybinii f. caniarense, Solanum rybinii var. popayanum, Solanum chaucha var. khoyllu, Solanum tuberosum var. luteocarnosum, Solanum stenotomum f. koso-nahui, Solanum andigenum f. ppacc-nacha, Solanum tuberosum f. chiar-pala, Solanum tuberosum var. taraco, Solanum oceanicum, Solanum andigenum f. cryptostylum, Solanum stenotomum f. churi-puya, Solanum phureja f. sayhuanimayo, Solanum tuberosum var. praecox, Solanum aracc-papa, Solanum phureja var. sanguineum, Solanum stenotomum f. chincherae, Solanum tuberosum var. aflorum, Solanum tuberosum var. violaceum, Solanum stenotomum f. roseum, Solanum andigenum f. chalcoense, Solanum tuberosum var. murukewillu, Solanum stenotomum var. peruanum, Solanum tuberosum var. merceri, Solanum tuberosum f. roseum, Solanum rybinii f. kesselbrenneri, Larnax sylvarum subsp. novogranatensis, Solanum chaucha var. puca-suitu, Solanum tuberosum var. bicolor, Solanum andigenum f. pomacanchicum, Solanum tuberosum f. chiar-lelekkoya, Solanum riobambense, Solanum tuberosum var. conocarpum, Solanum stenotomum f. janck'o-chojllu, Solanum andigenum f. tiahuanacense, Solanum phureja f. timusi, Solanum multijugum, Solanum andigenum subsp. ecuatorianum, Solanum stenotomum f. alcay-imilla, Solanum maglia var. chubutense, Solanum rybinii f. ciezae, Solanum andigenum, Solanum andigenum f. pallidum, Solanum andigenum var. colombianum, Solanum stenotomum var. huicu, Solanum subandigenum, Solanum tuberosum var. crassipedicellatum, Solanum tuberosum var. ulmense, Solanum tuberosum var. batatinum, Solanum rybinii var. boyacense, Solanum chaucha var. surimana, Solanum caniarense, Solanum stenotomum f. pitoca, Solanum tuberosum var. ibbelianum, Solanum andigenum f. rosada, Solanum stenotomum f. kehuillo, Solanum andigenum f. microstigma, Solanum tuberosum f. barmacca, Solanum tuberosum f. chojo-sajama, Solanum tuberosum subsp. fernandezianum, Solanum tuberosum var. rubrisuturatum, Solanum tuberosum var. rockii, Solanum stenotomum var. kkamara, Solanum phureja f. viuda, Solanum tuberosum var. guaytecarum, Solanum tuberosum var. brachystylum, Solanum tuberosum var. putscheanum, Solanum tuberosum f. dolichostylum, Solanum tuberosum f. brachystylum, Solanum stenotomum f. yana-cculi, Solanum tuberosum var. tigrinum, Solanum tuberosum var. lelekkoya, Solanum andigenum var. mexicanum, Solanum stenotomum f. phitu-huayacas, Solanum andigenum var. cuzcoense, Solanum andigenum f. cevallosii, Solanum chocclo, Solanum stenotomum var. keccrana, Solanum tuberosum var. cultum, Solanum tuberosum var. rossicum, Solanum tuberosum var. albiflorum, Solanum tuberosum f. huinco, Solanum rybinii f. macmillanii, Solanum tuberosum var. deficiens, Solanum rybinii var. pastoense, Solanum stenotomum f. canasense, Solanum andigenum f. ancacc-maquin, Solanum tuberosum f. huaca-zapato, Solanum tuberosum var. rubrum, Solanum stenotomum f. laram, Solanum stenotomum f. kkarachi-pampa, Solanum tuberosum var. praedicandum, Solanum stenotomum var. ppitiquina, Solanum stenotomum f. pallidum, Solanum andigenum var. ccusi, Solanum stenotomum var. chapina, Solanum tuberosum f. crassifilamentum, Solanum tuberosum f. montticum, Solanum andigenum f. dilatatum, Solanum andigenum f. caiceda, Solanum tuberosum var. chiloense, Solanum stenotomum f. alkka-pitiquina, Solanum tuberosum var. helenanum, Solanum sanmartiniense, Solanum rybinii, Solanum andigenum var. acutifoliatum, Solanum andigenum subsp. australiperuvianum, Solanum stenotomum f. orcco-amajaya, Solanum tuberosum var. salamandrinum, Solanum andigenum f. guatemalense, Solanum yabari var. cuzcoense, Solanum andigenum f. lanciacuminatum, Solanum ascasabii, Solanum aracatscha, Solanum tuberosum var. melanoceras, Solanum stenotomum f. kamara, Solanum andigenum var. latius, Solanum tuberosum f. infectum, Solanum phureja subsp. estradae, Solanum andigenum var. ckello-huaccoto, Solanum andigenum f. sunchchu, Solanum stenotomum var. cyaneum, Solanum tuberosum f. oculosum, Solanum stenotomum f. alkka-phinu, Solanum tuberosum var. chilotanum, Solanum macmillanii, Solanum tuberosum var. brachyceras, Solanum rybinii var. bogotense, Solanum stenotomum f. phinu, Solanum sylvestre, Solanum tuberosum f. tinguipaya, Solanum tuberosum var. corniforme, Solanum tuberosum var. europaeum, Solanum andigenum subsp. argentinicum, Solanum andigenum f. tenue, Solanum tuberosum var. recurvatum, Solanum tuberosum f. acuminatum, Solanum stenotomum var. luru, Solanum andigenum f. huaca-layra, Solanum yabari, Solanum boyacense, Solanum tuberosum var. leonhardianum, Solanum tuberosum var. nobile, Solanum phureja var. rubroroseum, Solanum stenotomum f. negrum, Solanum andigenum var. longibaccatum, Solanum tuberosum f. pichuna, Solanum stenotomum, Solanum andigenum f. huaman-uma, Solanum andigenum var. brevicalyx, Solanum stenotomum var. ari-chuwa, Solanum tuberosum f. indianum, Solanum andigenum f. alccai-huarmi, Solanum phureja var. flavum, Solanum tuberosum var. kaunitzii, Solanum coeruleiflorum, Solanum herrerae, Solanum utile, Solanum andigenum var. ancashicum, Solanum stenotomum f. huamanpa-uman, Solanum apurimacense, Solanum tuberosum f. wila-pala, Solanum sabinei, Solanum andigenum f. caesium, Solanum tuberosum f. ovatum, Solanum andigenum f. globosum, Solanum tuberosum var. erythroceras, Battata tuberosa, Solanum phureja f. orbiculatum, Solanum andigenum f. chiar-imilla, Solanum andigenum var. imilla, Solanum stenotomum f. cochicallo, Solanum andigenum f. huarasicum, Solanum tuberosum f. sebastianum, Solanum leptostigma, Solanum stenotomum var. ccami, Solanum andigenum var. carhua, Solanum andigenum f. ccompetillo, Solanum tuberosum f. mahuinhue, Solanum phureja var. jancko-phureja, Solanum phureja var. pujeri, Solanum tuberosum var. laurentianum, Solanum tuberosum var. brevipilosum, Solanum stenotomum f. huanuchi, Solanum tuberosum var. uniforme, Solanum stenotomum f. kantillero, Solanum andigenum subsp. bolivianum, Solanum tuberosum f. wila-huaycku, Solanum tuberosum var. album, Solanum andigenum f. uncuna, Solanum yabari var. pepino, Solanum tuberosum var. chubutense, Solanum tuberosum var. polemoniifolium, Solanum andigenum f. discolor, Solanum tuberosum var. californicum, Solanum stenotomum f. huallata-chinchi, Solanum chilotanum var. talukdarii, Solanum tuberosum var. agrostans, Solanum tuberosum var. alatum, Solanum andigenum var. juninum, Solanum tuberosum f. nigrum, Solanum sendigena, Solanum tuberosum f. coraila, Lycopersicon tuberosum, Solanum phureja, Solanum stenotomum f. ccami, Solanum tuberosum var. platyceras, Solanum tuberosum var. hispanicum, Solanum tuberosum var. yutuense, Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigenum, Solanum andigenum var. stenophyllum, Solanum tuberosum f. wila-k'oyu, Solanum tuberosum var. sanmartinense, Solanum tuberosum f. huichinkka, Solanum stenotomum var. puca-lunca, Solanum andigenum f. bifidum, Solanum tuberosum f. latum, Solanum stenotomum f. tiele, Solanum tuberosum var. strobilinum, Solanum tuberosum var. multibaccatum, Solanum tuberosum var. hassicum, Solanum andigenum var. herrerae, Solanum andigenum var. aymaranum, Solanum rybinii f. cuencanum, Solanum goniocalyx var. caeruleum, Solanum sinense, Solanum tuberosum f. lelekkoya, Solanum phureja f. chocclo, Solanum tuberosum var. menapianum, Solanum andigenum f. chimaco, Solanum tuberosum f. enode, Solanum tuberosum var. pearcei, Solanum tuberosum var. bufoninum, Solanum tuberosum var. corsicanum, Solanum stenotomum f. chojllu, Solanum andigenum subsp. tarmense, Solanum stenotomum f. eucaliptae, Solanum tuberosum f. isla-imilla, Solanum tuberosum f. wila-monda, Solanum stenotomum var. putis, Solanum tuberosum var. lutescens, Solanum andigenum f. arcuatum, Solanum tuberosum f. elongatum, Solanum kesselbrenneri, Solanum tuberosum var. aethiopicum, Solanum tuberosum var. schnittspahnii, Solanum andigenum var. bolivianum, Solanum andigenum var. huairuru, Solanum tuberosum f. overita, Solanum tuberosum var. flavescens, Solanum tuberosum var. malcachu, Solanum stenotomum f. pacajes, Solanum tuberosum f. wila-imilla, Solanum molinae, Solanum andigenum f. incrassatum, Solanum tuberosum f. camota, Solanum tuberosum var. villaroella, Solanum stenotomum f. cohuasa, Solanum phureja var. caeruleum, Solanum tuberosum var. tener, Solanum tuberosum var. rugiorum, Solanum andigenum var. sihuanum, Solanum zykinii, Solanum tuberosum f. jancck'o-kkoyllu, Solanum tascalense, Solanum tarmense, Solanum cultum, Solanum goniocalyx, Solanum tuberosum var. fragariinum, Solanum cayeuxi, Solanum andigenum f. ovatibaccatum, Solanum andigenum f. pacus, Solanum stenotomum f. yuracc, Solanum tuberosum f. contortum, Solanum andigenum var. vallejosii, Solanum andigenum subsp. colombianum, Solanum andigenum var. grauense, Solanum tuberosum var. cordiforme, Solanum andigenum f. llutuc-runtum, Solanum andigenum f. basiscopum, Solanum mamilliferum, Solanum tuberosum f. pulo, Solanum rybinii f. riobambense, Solanum stenotomum f. phiti-kalla, Solanum tuberosum f. janck'o-chockella, Solanum tuberosum f. yurac-taraco, Solanum tuberosum var. utillissimum, Solanum tuberosum f. chaped, Solanum tuberosum var. fernandezianum, Solanum stenotomum f. cuchipacon, Solanum tuberosum var. reniforme, Solanum estradea, Solanum tuberosum var. pecorum, Solanum tuberosum var. vulgare, Solanum andigenum var. socco-huaccoto, Solanum tuberosum subsp. chiloense, Solanum tuberosum var. marmoratum, Solanum tuberosum var. runa, Solanum andigenum f. lapazense, Solanum andigenum f. tolucanum, Solanum cardenasii, Solanum ochoanum, Solanum tuberosum f. conicum, Solanum paramoense, Solanum tuberosum var. borsdorfianum, Solanum andigenum f. conicicolumnatum, Solanum chilotanum, Solanum andigenum var. hederiforme, Solanum andigenum f. lecke-umo, Solanum andigenum subsp. aya-papa, Solanum tuberosum var. flavum, Solanum tuberosum var. diemii, Solanum andigenum f. nodosum, Solanum stenotomum var. pitiquina, Solanum stenotomum f. canastilla, Solanum tuberosum f. janck'o-pala, Solanum tuberosum var. peruvianum, Solanum tuberosum var. holsaticum, Solanum tuberosum f. brachykalukon, Solanum tuberosum var. sabinei, Solanum andigenum var. platyantherum, Solanum tuberosum f. alkka-imilla, Solanum andigenum f. tocanum, Solanum stenotomum f. azureo-ckati, Solanum tuberosum f. sani-imilla, Solanum tuberosum var. xanthoceras, Solanum hygrothermicum, Solanum tuberosum var. elongatum, Solanum chaucha f. purpureum, Solanum tuberosum f. thalassinum, Solanum sanmartinense, Solanum chiloense, Solanum stenotomum f. chilcas, Solanum tuberosum f. kunurana, Solanum tuberosum var. cepinum, Solanum tuberosum var. nucinum, Solanum tuberosum f. brevipapillosum, Solanum parmentieri, Solanum andigenum var. quechuanum, Solanum andigenum f. coeruleum, Solanum tuberosum f. coriala, Solanum tuberosum f. alkka-silla, Solanum tuberosum var. sicha, Solanum stenotomum f. chiar-ckati, Solanum chilotanum f. parvicorollatum, Solanum tuberosum var. drakeanum, Solanum tuberosum var. sesquimensale, Solanum tuberosum f. araucanum, Solanum tuberosum f. viride, Solanum phureja subsp. hygrothermicum, Solanum stenotomum f. puca, Solanum andigenum var. digitotuberosum, Solanum andigenum f. lisarassa, Solanum tuberosum f. laram-lelekkoya, Solanum stenotomum f. piticana, Solanum stenotomum var. pitiquilla, Solanum tuberosum var. anglicum, Solanum tuberosum var. julianum, Solanum stenotomum f. quime, Solanum andigenum f. ancacpomacanchicum, Solanum tuberosum var. versicolor, Solanum chaucha var. ckati, Solanum stenotomum f. chiar-phinu, Solanum chilotanum f. magnicorollatum, Solanum tuberosum var. sipancachi, Solanum tuberosum f. amajaya, Solanum stenotomum f. catari-papa, Solanum andigenum f. huallata, Solanum andigenum f. ppaqui, Solanum chaucha, Solanum phureja var. macmillanii, Solanum tuberosum var. saccharatum, Solanum tuberosum f. pillicuma, Solanum tuberosum var. vuchefeldicum, Solanum churuspi, Solanum andigenum f. lilacinoflorum, Solanum erlansonii, Solanum tuberosum var. caesium, Solanum tuberosum var. coloratum, Solanum andigenum f. magnicorollatum, Solanum tuberosum f. malcachu, Solanum tuberosum var. alaudinum, Solanum tuberosum var. palatinatum, Solanum stenotomum var. poccoya, Solanum tuberosum var. cucumerinum, Solanum stenotomum f. wila-chojllu, Solanum stenotomum subsp. goniocalyx, Solanum chaucha var. ccoe-sulla, Solanum stenotomum f. pulu-wayk'u, Solanum tuberosum subsp. pearcei, Solanum tuberosum f. obliquum, Solanum tuberosum f. azul-runa, Solanum chilotanum var. angustifurcatum, Solanum chariense, Solanum phureja var. erlansonii, Solanum parvicorollatum, Solanum tuberosum f. surico, Solanum tuberosum var. tinctorium, Solanum tuberosum var. bertuchii, Solanum chaucha f. roseum, Solanum tuberosum f. auriculatum, Solanum stenotomum var. chojllu, Solanum tuberosum f. tenuipedicellatum, Solanum andigenum subsp. centraliperuvianum, Solanum tuberosum var. oculosum, Solanum maglia var. guaytecarum, Solanum andigenum f. elongatipedicellatum, Solanum tuberosum var. variegatum
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Botanical Description
Solanum tuberosum, the potato, is an herbaceous perennial of the nightshade family, usually grown as an annual, with weak, sprawling to erect stems reaching 0.3 to 1 m. Beneath the soil, slender underground stolons swell at their tips into the familiar starchy tubers, which are modified stems bearing dormant buds (eyes). The leaves are pinnately compound with several large terminal leaflets interspersed with smaller ones. The star-shaped flowers, white, pink, blue, or purple with a yellow central cone of anthers, are borne in branched clusters. Pollinated flowers produce small green, tomato-like berries that, like the foliage and green tubers, contain toxic glycoalkaloids (solanine). Native to the Andes of South America, where it was domesticated several thousand years ago, the potato is now one of the world's most important staple food crops.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
The potato originated in the Andes, where indigenous peoples cultivated it as a staple and also applied raw tuber poultices to skin inflammations and burns. Among Native North American groups, the Rappahannock used the raw potato as a dermatological remedy, the Iroquois prepared an eye medicine, and the Cherokee used it as a psychological aid (Moerman, 1998). Raw sliced tuber and its starchy water were widely used in folk practice as a cooling poultice for burns and inflamed skin. The aerial parts and green tubers are toxic owing to solanine; only the mature tuber is eaten as a major food.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.