The common potato, known scientifically as Solanum tuberosum, is a member of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. This family is surprisingly diverse and includes many familiar plants. Its relatives range from tomatoes and eggplants to peppers and even tobacco.

Being in this family means potatoes share certain structural characteristics with their cousins, such as similar flower structures and the potential to produce certain chemical compounds. But the potato is most famous for a unique feature: its tuber.

A potato plant has two main parts: the foliage above ground and the root system, stolons, and tubers below. The visible part consists of the main stems, compound leaves, and flowers. The leaves are made up of several leaflets arranged along a central stalk. The flowers, which are often white, pink, or purple, are structurally similar to those of a tomato plant.