Sweet potato (Satsumaimo) - Ipomoea batatas; sweet potato

Japanese: サツマイモ(薩摩芋) - サツマイモ（英語表記）Ipomoea batatas; sweet potato

A perennial vine of the Convolvulaceae family. It is also called kansho (sweet potato), karaimo (Chinese potato), or ryukyu-imo (Ryukyu potato), and its tuberous roots are an important food source. It is believed to have originated in Latin America. It was introduced to Japan from the Ryukyu Islands to Satsuma (Kagoshima), and was then spread throughout the country by Aoki Konyo in the mid-18th century. Today, it is mainly cultivated in various areas from the Kanto region to the west. It has long creeping vines and leaves that are heart-shaped, pointed at the tip, and wavy or deeply lobed edges. In late summer, it occasionally blooms in flowers similar to morning glories, but in Japan it rarely bears fruit. The roots that grow from the base of the leaves near the base of the plant thicken and become potatoes. The shape of the potatoes can be spherical, spindle-shaped, cylindrical, or irregular, depending on the variety, and the color, taste, and texture of the potatoes also vary. Potatoes contain large amounts of starch and sugar, and are eaten steamed or roasted, or used to make potato crackers and other sweets, as well as to make alcoholic beverages such as shochu.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ヒルガオ科の多年生のつる草。カンショ（甘藷），カライモ（唐芋），リュウキュウイモ（琉球芋）などともいい，塊根は重要な食糧となる。原産地はラテンアメリカと推定されている。日本には琉球から薩摩（鹿児島）に伝わり，18世紀半ばに青木昆陽が全国に広めた。今日おもに関東から西の各地で栽培されている。つるは長く地上をはい，葉は心臓形，先はとがり，縁は波状あるいは深く裂ける。夏の終わり頃，まれにアサガオに似た花を開くこともあるが，日本ではほとんど結実しない。根もとに近い葉のつけ根から出る根が太って芋になる。芋の形は品種により球形，紡錘形，円筒形，不定形などがあり，また芋の色，味，食感もいろいろである。芋は多量のデンプンや糖類を含み，ふかし芋や焼芋にして食べるほか，芋せんべいその他の菓子の原料や焼酎など酒の原料にする。

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