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Solanum tuberosum L.
| Family Name: | Solanaceae |
| Common Name: | Potato, Common Potato, White Potato, 马铃薯, 阳芋 |
Name
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Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.3 m to 1 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial herb up to 1 m tall. |
| Foliage | Odd-pinnate, compound leaves are composed of 3-8 pairs of leaflets. |
| Stems | Underground, horizontal stems known as stolons produce edible tubers. |
| Flowers | White, pink, blue or purple, 2.5-3 cm wide flowers are arranged in clusters located in the leaf axils (space between the upper surface of the leaf and stem) or at stem tips. One plant may produce flowers of all 4 different colours. Flowers are borne on 1-3 cm long stalks known as pedicels which are jointed in the middle. |
| Fruits | Inedible, round fruits classified as berries are green or yellowish green and often striped (1.5-4 cm wide). |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Caution: The green parts of the plant contain toxic compounds known as solanines. Tubers that have turned green after exposure to light should not be consumed. |
| Cultivation | This species cannot be grown in Singapore, because it requires cool, moist conditions. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Storage Organs) Food (Fruit & Vegetable : Potatoes are widely eaten throughout the world as an important food staple item. They are rich in carbohydrates and vitamin C.) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Blue, Pink, Purple, White |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Size - Width | 2.8 cm |
Fruit, Seed & Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Green |
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Fleshy Fruit |
| Fruit Type 2 | Non-Accessory Fruit |
References
| References |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 32087 |
| Species ID | 6493 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
