''Coleus rotundifolius'',

synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

''Plectranthus rotundifolius'' and ''Solenostemon rotundifolius'', commonly known as native or country potato in Africa and called Chinese potato in India, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to tropical Africa. It is cultivated for its edible tubers primarily in West Africa, as well as more recently in parts of Asia, especially India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia. ''C. rotundifolius'' is closely related to the coleus plants widely cultivated as ornamentals and is now again placed in the genus ''Coleus'', after being placed in the defunct genus ''Solenostemon'' and in ''

Plectranthus ''Plectranthus'' is a genus of about 85 species of flowering plants from the sage family, Lamiaceae, found mostly in southern and tropical Africa and Madagascar. Common names include spur-flower. ''Plectranthus'' species are herbaceous perennia ...

''.

Use and cultivation

The egg-shaped tubers of the native potato appear very similar to the unrelated true potato, though they are smaller than modern commercial varieties. They are typically boiled, but may also be roasted, baked, or fried. Their flavor is bland, but sweeter than ''

Coleus esculentus ''Coleus esculentus'', synonym ''Plectranthus esculentus'', also known as the kaffir potato or Livingstone potato, is a species of plant in the dicot family Lamiaceae. It is indigenous to Africa, where it is grown for its edible tubers. It is m ...

''. Native potato is overwhelmingly a

subsistence crop Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow food crops to meet the needs of themselves and their families on smallholdings. Subsistence agriculturalists target farm output for survival and for mostly local requirements, with little or no su ...

, though flour milling is reported in Burkina Faso. ''C. rotundifolius'' is one of three ''Coleus'' species native to Africa grown for their edible tubers and using the same vernacular names. The others, ''C. esculentus'' and '' C. edulis'', native to southern Africa and Ethiopia, respectively, have not spread beyond Africa. Its cultivation has been largely displaced by the spread of cassava, which was introduced by the Portuguese to Africa from South America about 500 years ago.

Names

In Africa, ''Coleus rotundifolius'' is also known as the Hausa potato or Sudan potato, in addition to the names native potato and country potato.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q87645190, from2=Q2716687, from3=Q39089208 rotundifolius Root vegetables Crops originating from Africa

Use and cultivation

Names

See also

References