Sweet potatoes are not potatoes Unlike regular potatoes, which are tubers, sweet potatoes are considered to be root vegetables. The root, however, is described as a tuberous root. Both sweet and regular potatoes grow under the soil, but they are very different when it comes to density, taste and nutrition.
Is a sweet potato an actual potato?
Sweet and regular potatoes are both considered root vegetables but are only distantly related. Sweet potatoes are from the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae, and white potatoes are nightshades, or Solanaceae. The edible part of these plants are the tubers that grow on the roots.
How is a sweet potato different from a potato?
Regular potatoes have white or yellow flesh inside, while sweet potatoes are known for having orange innards. Both typically have brownish skin; though, that can vary depending on the variety. There are more than 4,000 different types of potatoes and 1,000 varieties of sweet potatoes grown around the globe.
Why is a sweet potato called a potato?
Europeans referred to the sweet potato as the potato, which often leads to confusion when searching for old sweet potato recipes. It wasn't until after the 1740's that the term sweet potato began to be used by American colonists to distinguish it from the white (Irish) potato.
Is sweet potato an asexual?
Sweet potatoes in gardens are usually reproduced asexually. Taking a cutting from a plant's root or stem means that there is no opportunity for genes to shuffle or for new genes to be introduced.
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
What type of vegetable is kumara?Is sweet potato actually potato?