Scientific name: brassica napobrassica
Sis forSweet potato
Scientific name: ipomoea batatas
The sweet potato is the thick tuberous root of a plant native to South America. They are sometimes called a sweet yam, but are not related to the true yam. Sweet potatos have yellow or white flesh and as their name suggests, have a very sweet taste.
They can be eaten roasted, mashed, fried or cooked into stews. They are much softer than regular potatoes when they are cooked.
Scientific name: brassica rapa
Scientific name: genus: dioscorea
A yam is the tuber of a vine, found in many countries around the world. Yam tubers can grow very big - up to 70kg. Yams have a rough skin that is hard to peel, but much softer flesh inside.
Many people call sweet potatoes yams or sweet yams, but they are actually different vegetables.
Some variety of yam can be eaten raw, but most need to be cooked. Yams can be fried, boiled, pounded down and made into a dough. They can also be dried and powdered and used to make something similar to instant mashed potato.
Scientific name: cucurbita pepo