sweet potato sweetpotato lpomoea batata dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family Convolvulaceae large starchy sweet-tasting tuberous rootsroot vegetable young shoots and leave sometimes eaten greens sweet potato distantly related common potato Solanum tuberosum both being order Solanales sweet potato especially orange variety called "yam" parts North America entirely unrelated true yams Cultivars sweet potato bred bear tubers with flesh skin many color but white yellow orange flesh common darker skin