Po*ta"to (?), n.;
pl. Potatoes (#). [Sp. patata potato, batata sweet potato, from the native American name (probably batata) in
Hayti.]
(Bot.) (a) A plant (Solanum
tuberosum) of the Nightshade family, and its esculent farinaceous tuber, of which there are numerous varieties used for food. It is native of
South America, but a form of the species is found native as far
north as New Mexico. (b)
The sweet potato (see below).
Potato
beetle, Potato bug. (Zoöl.)
(a) A beetle (Doryphora
decemlineata) which feeds, both in the larval and adult stages, upon the leaves of
the potato, often doing great damage. Called also Colorado potato beetle, and Doryphora. See Colorado beetle. (b)
The Lema trilineata, a
smaller and more slender striped beetle which feeds upon the potato plant, bur does less
injury than the preceding species. -- Potato fly (Zoöl.), any one of several species of blister beetles infesting the potato vine. The black species (Lytta atrata), the striped (L. vittata), and the gray
(L. cinerea, or Fabricii) are the most
common. See Blister beetle, under Blister. --
Potato rot, a disease of
the tubers of the potato, supposed to be caused by a kind of mold (Peronospora infestans), which is first seen upon the leaves and stems. -- Potato weevil
(Zoöl.), an American weevil (Baridius
trinotatus) whose larva
lives in and kills the stalks of potato vines, often causing serious damage to the
crop. -- Potato whisky, a strong, fiery liquor, having a hot, smoky taste, and rich in amyl
alcohol (fusel oil); it is
made from potatoes or potato starch. -- Potato worm (Zoöl.), the large green larva of a sphinx, or hawk moth
(Macrosila quinquemaculata); -- called also
tomato worm. See Illust. under Tomato. -- Seaside potato (Bot.), Ipomœa Pes-Capræ, a kind of morning-glory with rounded and emarginate or bilobed leaves. [West Indies] -- Sweet potato (Bot.), a climbing plant (Ipomœa Balatas) allied to the morning-glory. Its farinaceous tubers have a sweetish taste, and are used, when cooked, for food. It is probably a native of Brazil, but is cultivated extensively in the warmer parts of every continent, and even as far north as New
Jersey. The name potato was applied to this plant before it was
to the Solanum tuberosum, and this is the "potato" of the Southern United States. -- Wild
potato. (Bot.)
(a) A vine (Ipomœa pandurata) having a pale purplish flower and an enormous root. It is common
in sandy places in the United
States. (b) A similar tropical American plant (I. fastigiata) which it is thought may have been the
original stock of the sweet
potato.
Hear it pronounced