Often termed as the king of all vegetables, potato is a starchy, tuberous crop vegetable of the solanaceae family. It is one of the few vegetables that mixes well with other vegetables and is known for adding a delicacy to any dish. Potato is one of the most widely used vegetables in Western temperate climates and the world's most widely grown tuber crop as well. This starchy crop is also the fourth largest food crop of the world in terms of fresh produce after rice, wheat, and maize.
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| Domesticated for over 10,000 years, this plant is probably native to the Andes, where it was cultivated by the Incas. There are more than one thousand known varieties, but only a fraction of this number are |
cultivated commercially. This delicious vegetable is also a good source of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. A rich source of Vitamin C, potatoes are naturally fat-free and carry very low amount of calories |
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Etymology
The word potato originates from the Spanish word patata (the name used for potato in Spain). In many countries and cultures, it is known by different names. In France it is termed as pomme de terre; whereas aardappel is the name for potato in Dutch. In Hindi and several other Indian languages and Nepali, the potato is called alu or aloo, while in Gujarati the potato is called bataka or batata.
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Potato Plant
This bushy and dark green plant with compound leaves, is somewhat similar to the tomato plant. It |
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can grow up to 3 feet tall. The leaves of potato are slightly wider at the base of the leaflet and has a darker green color. The plant bears yellow to silver flowers with yellow stamens. It has a thick, uneven shaped plant stem (tuber) that grows underground. This eatable tuber is also called a potato.
Nutritional Value
As a powerhouse of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, potatoes are the perfect base for a balanced diet. They are rich in Vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine. Besides this, it also contains many minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and sulfur.
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