Scientific Name
Solanum tuberosum
Common Name
Potato, irish potato, white potato

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Characteristics

Family
Solanaceae
Plant Description
The common, cultivated potato with tubers.
Origin
South America.
Where Found
Landscape in vegetable gardens.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Potato sprouts and green skin of old, spoiled potato tubers.
Symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, respiratory depression; may be fatal.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Tubers edible but discard sprouts and never eat tubers if they look spoiled or green below the skin.
Toxic Principle
Solanine and other alkaloids.
Severity
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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