Status:
valid
Authors:
L.
Source:
SolanaceaeSource.org
Year:
1753
Citation Micro:
Sp. Pl. 185. 1753.
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001031908
Common Names
- Potato Plant
- Irish Potato
- Tater
Description
Solanum tuberosum (also called potato, among many other common names) is an annual herbaceous plant native to the Andes of South America. It has small, white flowers and small, round, yellow-orange fruits. It grows in moist, sandy habitats, often in open woodlands.
Uses & Benefits
Solanum tuberosum is used as a food source and for its medicinal properties. It is also used as a root crop and for its ornamental value.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flower of Solanum tuberosum is a white or yellowish-white, star-shaped flower with five pointed petals. The seed is a black, flattened, oval-shaped seed. The seedlings are short, with oval-shaped leaves and small white flowers.
Cultivation and Propagation
Solanum tuberosum is a perennial herbaceous plant native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seeds should be sown in a well-drained, light soil mix and kept moist. Cuttings should be taken from healthy plants and rooted in a moist, well-drained soil mix. The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and should be watered regularly. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season.
Where to Find Solanum tuberosum
Solanum tuberosum is native to South America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Species in the Solanum genus
Solanum aemulans,
Solanum blanco-galdosii,
Solanum brucheri,
Solanum edinense,
Solanum michoacanum,
Solanum procurrens,
Solanum rechei,
Solanum sambucinum,
Solanum vallis-mexici,
Solanum abitaguense,
Solanum abollatum,
Solanum abortivum,
Solanum absconditum,
Solanum abutilifolium,
Solanum abutiloides,
Solanum acanthodapis,
Solanum acanthodes,
Solanum acaule,
Solanum accrescens,
Solanum acerifolium,
Solanum achorum,
Solanum acroglossum,
Solanum acropterum,
Solanum acroscopicum,
Solanum actaeibotrys,
Solanum actephilum,
Solanum aculeastrum,
Solanum aculeatissimum,
Solanum acuminatum,
Solanum acutilobum,
Solanum adenobasis,
Solanum adenophorum,
Solanum adoense,
Solanum adscendens,
Solanum adspersum,
Solanum aethiopicum,
Solanum affine,
Solanum africanum,
Solanum agnewiorum,
Solanum agnoston,
Solanum agrarium,
Solanum agrimoniifolium,
Solanum ajanhuiri,
Solanum alatirameum,
Solanum albescens,
Solanum albicans,
Solanum albidum,
Solanum albornozii,
Solanum albostellatum,
Solanum aldabrense,
Species in the Solanaceae family