Potato \Po*ta"to\, n.; pl. {Potatoes}. [Sp. patata potato,
   batata sweet potato, from the native American name (probably
   batata) in Hayti.] (Bot.)
      (a) A plant ({Solanum tuberosum}) of the Nightshade
          family, and its esculent farinaceous tuber, of which
          there are numerous varieties used for food. It is
          native of South America, but a form of the species is
          found native as far north as New Mexico.
      (b) The sweet potato (see below).
          
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   {Potato beetle}, {Potato bug}. (Zool.)
      (a) A beetle ({Doryphora decemlineata}) which feeds, both
          in the larval and adult stages, upon the leaves of the
          potato, often doing great damage. Called also
          {Colorado potato beetle}, and {Doryphora}. See
          {Colorado beetle}.
      (b) The {Lema trilineata}, a smaller and more slender
          striped beetle which feeds upon the potato plant, bur
          does less injury than the preceding species.

   {Potato fly} (Zool.), any one of several species of blister
      beetles infesting the potato vine. The black species
      ({Lytta atrata}), the striped ({Lytta vittata}), and the
      gray ({Lytta Fabricii} syn. {Lytta cinerea}) are the most
      common. See {Blister beetle}, under {Blister}.

   {Potato rot}, a disease of the tubers of the potato, supposed
      to be caused by a kind of mold ({Peronospora infestans}),
      which is first seen upon the leaves and stems.

   {Potato weevil} (Zool.), an American weevil ({Baridius  trinotatus}) whose larva lives in and kills the stalks of
      potato vines, often causing serious damage to the crop.

   {Potato whisky}, a strong, fiery liquor, having a hot, smoky
      taste, and rich in amyl alcohol (fusel oil); it is made
      from potatoes or potato starch.

   {Potato worm} (Zool.), the large green larva of a sphinx, or
      hawk moth ({Macrosila quinquemaculata}); -- called also
      {tomato worm}. See Illust. under {Tomato}.

   {Seaside potato} (Bot.), {Ipomoea Pes-Caprae}, a kind of
      morning-glory with rounded and emarginate or bilobed
      leaves. [West Indies]

   {Sweet potato} (Bot.), a climbing plant ({Ipomoea Balatas})
      allied to the morning-glory. Its farinaceous tubers have a
      sweetish taste, and are used, when cooked, for food. It is
      probably a native of Brazil, but is cultivated extensively
      in the warmer parts of every continent, and even as far
      north as New Jersey. The name potato was applied to this
      plant before it was to the {Solanum tuberosum}, and this
      is the "potato" of the Southern United States.

   {Wild potato}. (Bot.)
      (a) A vine ({Ipomoea pandurata}) having a pale purplish
          flower and an enormous root. It is common in sandy
          places in the United States.
      (b) A similar tropical American plant ({Ipomoea  fastigiata}) which it is thought may have been the
          original stock of the sweet potato.
          
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