Biodiversity
An introduction to biodiversity.
A simple explanation of what biodiversity is, how we make sense of it and its importance to us. Plus an introduction to the biodiversity of potatoes and tomatoes.
Solanum stoloniferum
Quick Description:
An edible common wild potato that tastes like sweet chestnut.
Appearance:
This wild potato is widespread and very variable. It is similar to the commercial potato, but has more narrow leaf sections and shorter leaf stalks, and its flowers are white or purple but never pink (commercial potato plants can have pink flowers).
There has been a lot of scientific argument about how this species should be identified and many relatives it has. The plant is 20-70 cm tall and survives for many years. Its leaves are covered in hairs and can be as long as 22 cm. The edges of the flowers are flat and not rolled. The flower stalks break off in the middle or near the top. The styles are straight and do not protrude far out of the flower. The fruits are white or green, sometimes with spots and stripes.
Eating / cooking
Used for food in USA, and can be eaten raw or cooked. It is also eaten by the Tarahumara Indians in the Chihuahua, Mexico. It tastes like a sweet chestnut. When eaten raw the potatoes are mixed with clay: one report says that after every mouthful of raw potato, a person takes a bite of white clay to counteract the unpleasant astringent effect in the mouth.
Nutritional content
The raw tubers have been used in the treatment of stomach acid.
Habitat / Growing
Grows in USA: Arizona, New Mexico, SW Texas, and in Mexico, in many different kinds of habitats.
Stress tolerance
This species does not have any special tolerance to stress.
Disease resistance / pest resistance
It is a source of resistance to Potato Virus Y. Multiple other disease resistances have also been discovered in some populations.
Storage
Not known.
