Potato

thumb|Potatoes The potato is a starchy root vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are tubers of the plant Solanum tuberosum, a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. The Spanish introduced potatoes to Europe in the second half of the 16th century. They are a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply. Quotes La manie des Pommes de terre. Potato mania. Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, Examen chymique des pommes de terre (1773), p. 225 When people live on poor vegetables instead of roast beef and plum-pudding, their jaws grow large, and their lips grow coarse, like the poor Paddies who eat potatoes. Charles Kingsley, The Water-Babies (1863), ch. 6 In the matter of ‘roots’, especially potatoes, the Gaffer was recognized as the leading authority by all in the neighbourhood (including himself). J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (1952), A Long-expected Party Sam: What we need is a few good taters. Gollum: What's "taters", precious? What's "taters", eh? Sam: Po-ta-toes! Boil em, mash em, stick 'em in a stew. Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002 film) External links Category:Vegetables