It's a Family Affair

17 comments

At the risk of preaching to the converted, let’s talk ‘taters’ et al; or, to quote Samwise Gamgee ‘po-tay-toes’. (If in doubt, see ‘Lord of the Rings. Return of the King’.)
Solanum tuberosum, spuds, tatties, pommes de terre, whatever you like to call ‘em, there’s a lot more to this indispensible tuber than meets the eye. (Sorry! Unintended pun.)
The humble spud actually belongs to a very extensive family, and can lay claim to over 1,400 relatives. As with all families, at least in my experience, some of these are always welcome, and one or two are just downright nasty and should be avoided at all costs.
Spud’s closest and best known relative is that jolly round chap in a red suit. No! NOT Father Christmas! You know Tom. We call him ‘Tom-ar-toe’. On the other side of the pond, they say ‘Tom-ay-toe’ but what the heck.
In fact, Tom and Spud are so closely related, they can even grow on the same plant. It’s called a Pomato, and I’ve been tempted more than once to grow some, just to satisfy my curiosity. Haven’t got round to it yet, though. A sort of vegetable equivalent of the Labradoodle, I suppose.
Despite that, our much loved tomato labours under the rather grandeloquent name of…wait for it…Lycopersicon esculentum. Try saying that next time you’re in the greengrocers!
A close cousin of this popular pair is Solanum melongena, the Aubergine, or Egg Plant. Personally I’m rather fond of its other name…the Mad Apple, though why it’s called that I’ve no idea, unless it was once thought to calm the insane. (Perhaps I’m feeling an affinity there, somewhere.)
Of course, it’s not all edibles. The genus also includes some popular ornamentals in its ranks. Who hasn’t given or received a solanum pseudocapsicum at Christmas? That’s right. Her pretty red berries have earned her the popular name ‘Christmas Cherry’. Related to Spud, Tom and Aubergine, attractive as she is, Cherry is NOT edible.
The best known ornamental relatives are probably Solanum jasminoides or Potato Vine, and Solanum crispum, the very pretty, purple flowered Chilean Potato Tree, the cultivar ‘Glasnevin’ probably being the most readily available.
With one exception that I know of, all members of genus Solanum can be recognised by the distinctive form of their flowers.

Potato flowers can be purple or white, depending on the variety

Now, it’s not my intention to put you off the western world’s favourite vegetable, but it has a cousin who’s a killer.
Of course, she’s not using the family name, and she’s also changed her appearance. In polite society she’s known as Atropa, a.k.a Bella Donna. In the dark underworld of deadly plants she answers to Deadly Nightshade. A real temptress, she is, with her dusky purple, bell-shaped flowers and enticing, shiny black berries. You can look, but don’t touch.
It’s only fair to include the Australian cousins in this little line-up. Indigenous to Australia and New Zealand is the intriguing Solanum aviculare or ‘Kangaroo Apple’. I’d love to know whether Kangaroos actually eat the colourful red and yellow fruits, but as it reaches 10-12 ft. tall I think they’d have to hop very high.
All in all, the Solanum family is readily recognisable and, for the most part, friendly. It provides colour and foliage in our gardens, but best of all, food.
Chips, anyone?

Bbb

27 Jun, 2009
9 likes

Comments

Terratoonie

Well written, entertaining and informative.
Well done, Bbumble :o)

27 Jun, 2009

Bigbumblebee

Thanks Tt. One does one's best. Lol

27 Jun, 2009

Seaburngirl

dont forget atropa's sister woody nightshade. purple and yellow flowers with wonderful shiny red berries.

27 Jun, 2009

Ian_digs_v2

I didn't know my favourite veg had such a noble and elegent lineage....LOL
Don't you find that, as with all families, there is always a black sheep, I did know about cousin Bella but you've opened my eyes to the others.
Great blog Bbumble.

H & K's..........Ian

27 Jun, 2009

Bigbumblebee

No, I hadn't forgotten her Sbg, but if I'd gone through every one I could have entered the blog as a thesis for my Master's! (It might have fared better than the last one...LoL)
Thanks for your interest.
I wish I'd thought about the black sheep angle Ian. I think I could have worked that in quite effectively. Maybe next time...LoL
Bbb

27 Jun, 2009

Bobg

Once again you have held me enthralled with your wonderful blog, I did'nt know there were so many 'cousins' to the noble 'tater'. Did you know that in the Africaans language the potato is called 'artapels' (earth apples)
But In Europe the chip is called 'Pommes frites' and the Australians call us 'Pommies' is that why we sometimes get called the term of endearment 'Spud' (as in "hiya spud!")
Or in the case of the Africaan language again, the English are called 'Rooinek' (redneck because we never covered up in the sun and got our necks sunburned) Does that suggest we are like the Lincoln red potato.
Or finally are television sports announcers likened to the most noble potato, The King Edward, or are they just common-taters? :o)))))))))

28 Jun, 2009

Seaburngirl

oh bobg that was a [s]mashing pun.

yes bbb once you start looking at plant families it doesnt half get complicated. but i only mentioned cousin woody as she is a british native and surprisingly common around where i live.
the primary school 'gardener' [i use the term loosly] left woody nightshade as he thought the berries particularly attractive. my eldest then 9 told me about it as we have it in the garden. she had been told [hopefully taught] always to ask about plants before eating them. bless her she had remembered from a few years before as being nasty to eat.
she had told the headteacher who basically patted her on the head and told her not to be silly. so armed with a wildflower book she went back to school and pointed it out. still no joy. now i'm not knocking teachers, they are a rare breed of people but a few will not take info from children. it fell to my hubby to enlighten the head.
so no woody nightshade at school now.
i thought a missed teaching opportunity to show the children about wild flowers and safe gardening.

but still a fantastic blog and as you say solanacea are such a diverse group.

28 Jun, 2009

Pamazon

Goodness me BBB, I never new that the humble spud had such a famous lineage, that has really taught me a lot. Each time I saw the flower it reminded me of my Solanum which is growing up through my Lilac tree, now I know why, it is very informative, thank you.

28 Jun, 2009

Maccrimmon

brilliant blog BBB informative,humorous and interesting, you really must tell me how to grow a pomato , it sounds wonderful .

28 Jun, 2009

Bigbumblebee

Thankyou all for your very entertaining comments. It just goes to show how much enjoyment can be gained from gardening, not just the practical side, but in gleaning knowledge as you go along.
Bobg, It's not only the Afrikaaners who call spuds 'earth apple'. The French 'Pommes de Terre' also means Apple of the Earth. (common taters? OMG that's an old potato) LoL
Mac, I believe the process of growing a pomato involves grafting a tomato plant onto the stem of a potato plant when both have reached a certain stage of growth. There was a time when it was possible to buy the ready grafted plants, but I haven't seen them advertised for some time.
Pam. Glad you noticed the similarity in the flowers. I'm hoping other GoYers will, too. Thanks for PM.
Sbg. Why is it, I wonder, that because children ARE children, teachers think they don't know anything? I'm not boasting, but I was one year ahead when I was at school, and was forever being put down by teachers. It's very demeaning for the child. Let's hear it for today's kids. They're not all hoodies.
Bbb

28 Jun, 2009

Sewingkilla

that was ace BB, as always you have a way with words, very informative thanks!!!

28 Jun, 2009

Paulthegard..

Wow!!! I think I'll have plenty of salt and vinegar on my chips!
O n a serious note, as we know potato foliage is poisonous and our little terrier ,Paddy, was sick a few days ago and I noticed a bit of what looked like potato leaf when I was clearing up so i presume he eaten a bit and this did the damage! He's been ok since, though. He's a blighter for eaten virtually anything he finds!

28 Jun, 2009

Blodyn

Great ! I enjoyed reading that :o)

29 Jun, 2009

Bobg

Okay now I have had a French lesson, I had seen that term 'Pommes de Terre' before but, not able to speak much French I was not too sure what it meant, now I have been hedificated :o)))) I have just noticed today that in one of my spud bags the plants have the little purple flowers on just like the ones are in your picture, as I am new to veg growing what variety would they be?

29 Jun, 2009

Ian_digs_v2

Hi Bob, I can help with this (if thats ok with you Morgana)
Lots of varieties have purple flowers but I do know Desiree have purple petals with white tips and Maris Piper are all purple. I'm sure this is no help at all but thats about how it is with spuds.......good luck with figuring out what they are......LOL.

29 Jun, 2009

Paulthegard..

Strange, th e flowering thing. I planted some Dunluce 1st earlies (they were free with my spud order from T&M) but never planted grown them before. I thought it was strange they hadn't flowered yet and then thought perhaops they were wrongly labeled and were a later potato. But when I had a feel round in the soil, I was delighted to find some real good size spuds. And they tasted great boiled and absolutey superb roasted. So, they are obviously, a variety that doesn't flower at all!

30 Jun, 2009