Solanum tuberosum

Potatoes are herbaceous perennial plants that belong to the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which includes other plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. It is a starchy root vegetable that is widely grown and consumed around the world. The potato was first domesticated in the Andes region(South America), possibly in what is now Peru or Bolivia. Following European contact with the America in the late 1400s and early 1500s, the potato was introduced to the rest of the world, eventually spreading widely.

The word “potato” originated from the Spanish word “patata,” which was derived from the Taíno language. The Taíno word for sweet potato, “batata,” was mistakenly applied to the newly discovered tuber by Spanish explorers. The word “patata” was then adopted by other European languages, including English, as the term for this new food. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of “patata” evolved into “potato,” which is the commonly used term today.