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Glite Dictionary
Solanum tuberosum

Solanum tuberosum

4.4
A plant that grows edible parts under the ground called potatoes
  • noun
  • /səˈleɪnəm tuˈbɛrəˌsʌm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : patata
  • The poisonous vines of Solanum tuberosum contrast with its edible tubers.

Examples

  • Researchers study the genetics of Solanum tuberosum to improve crop yields.

  • The Solanum tuberosum is a staple food in many countries.

  • Solanum tuberosum is the botanical name for the plant we commonly call the potato.

  • Did you know that Solanum tuberosum originated in South America?

  • The gardener planted Solanum tuberosum to produce fresh potatoes in his backyard.

  • Farmers in many countries cultivate Solanum tuberosum for its nutritious tubers.

  • You can find Solanum tuberosum in supermarkets, where it is sold as a versatile vegetable.

Synonyms

potato
vsSolanum tuberosum
110 1.0

A plant grown for its edible underground parts that people eat while its leaves are poisonous

is the formal scientific Latin name used in biology for that plant

Surface Forms

Solanum tuberosum singular
Solanum tuberosums plural

Morphology

Solanum + tuberosum

This is a Latin binomial rather than a normal English collocation: 'Solanum' marks a plant genus and 'tuberosum' etymologically relates to 'tuber' (tuberous), so the parts give a clue that it names a tuber-producing plant. However, average B1 learners will not know botanical Latin or be able to map the genus to 'potato', so the meaning is only partly inferable from the constituents.

Etymology

Solanum tuberosum is the Latin scientific name for the potato. The first word Solanum puts it in the nightshade group and the second word tuberosum means 'having tubers', which are the round underground parts we eat, so the name simply describes the potato.