Sweet potato as commonly called has as botanical name Ipomea batatas(L), and belongs to the morning glory or bindweed family of Convolvulaceae. It has unique characteristics as its large starchy, sweet tasting tuberous roots are edible as well as leaves.
The plant is a herbaceous perennial vine and is grown once a year. It has alternate heart shaped lobed leaves and medium sized flowers which could either be purple, white. Edible tuberous roots has different shapes with smooth skin whose colour ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown and purple.
The potato plant originated from the Americas and is been cultivated almost all over the world for varied reasons.
- Firstly, it is cultivated for food and thus can be eaten in various forms,( roasted and eaten with beans, fried, boiled) or even eaten raw.The hidden delicacy of sweet Potato.
- Its leaves are also prepared and eaten as vegetables with either potato itself or with other food such as plantain, banana, yams, rice etc.