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Glite Dictionary
potato tree

potato tree

8.1
A South American shrub not related to the edible potato that people grow for pretty purple flowers
  • noun
translation icon : árbol de papa
  • Despite its name, the potato tree is not related to the edible potato.

Examples

  • The potato tree is valued for its beautiful and fragrant purple flowers.

  • The potato tree blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • Gardeners in mild climates often plant the potato tree as an ornamental vine.

  • Look at that beautiful potato tree in the park!

  • Despite its name, the potato tree is not related to the edible potato.

  • The potato tree is valued for its beautiful and fragrant purple flowers.

  • Gardeners in mild climates often plant the potato tree as an ornamental plant.

Synonyms

Brazilian potato tree
vspotato tree
9.1

A South American bush or small tree with purple flowers that is not a true potato

is the general ornamental South American shrub not tied to one regional name
Solanum macranthum
vspotato tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A South American shrub or small tree grown for its bright flowers in tropical gardens

is the broader ornamental small tree category rather than that specific species
Solanum wrightii
vspotato tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A South American shrub or small tree grown for its flowers and leaves in tropical gardens, not a potato

is the ornamental small tree type named generally, not only that cultivated species
Solanum crispum
vspotato tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A hardy climbing bush from Chile that gardeners grow for its sweet-smelling blue-purple flowers

is a small or shrub form used ornamentally rather than a climbing plant

Surface Forms

potato tree singular
potato trees plural

Morphology

potato + tree

Although the compound 'potato tree' superficially combines 'potato' and 'tree' (which would suggest a tree that produces or is related to potatoes), the listed meaning is a lexicalized plant name that is not actually related to the edible potato. This mismatch between transparent composition and the established botanical referent makes the meaning unpredictable for a B1 learner who only knows the constituents, and such plant names are often arbitrary across languages.

Etymology

Potato tree may come from a simple image: one popular story says early gardeners thought its leaves or small round fruits looked like the familiar potato, so they put potato with tree in the name. That's why the name is easy to remember, but the plant is an ornamental and not the 'edible potato'.