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potatoesmore about potatoes

potatoes

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Potato  \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}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  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}  (Zo["o]l.),  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}  (Zo["o]l.),  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}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  large  green  larva  of  a  sphinx, 
  or  hawk  moth  ({Macrosila  quinquemaculata});  --  called  also 
  {tomato  worm}.  See  Illust.  under  {Tomato}. 
 
  {Seaside  potato}  (Bot.),  {Ipom[oe]a  Pes-Capr[ae]},  a  kind  of 
  morning-glory  with  rounded  and  emarginate  or  bilobed 
  leaves.  [West  Indies] 
 
  {Sweet  potato}  (Bot.),  a  climbing  plant  ({Ipom[oe]a  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  ({Ipom[oe]a  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.




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