The potato is a tuber—a short, thick, underground stem with stored starches and sugars of the potato plant. It was given its botanical name, Solanum tuberosum, in 1596 by the Swiss botanist Gaspard Bauhin, and belongs to the Solanaceae family, the nightshades, which also include eggplant, peppers, and the tomato. Potatoes grow best in cool-temperate … Continue reading Potatoes facts and health benefits