Potato (Solanum tuberosum). Watercolour artwork illustrating a potato plant. The plant belongs to the Solanaceae or nightshade family and originates from the Andes region of South America. The purple and white flowers (top left) are pollinated by insects and form small green fruit which produce seeds. However, the plants are grown for their potatoes (bottom), the edible tubers of the plant. Potatoes form an important source of carbohydrates in many diets. The 'skin' of the potato is also a good source of dietary fibre, essential for efficient digestion.