Why should potatoes be stored in the dark?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
October 8, 2001
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Since the introduction of the white potato (Solanum tuberosum) to Europe in the 1500s, it has been blamed for lust, leprosy, and weight gain. It was immediately recognized by European herbalists as belonging to the nightshade family. The potato's notorious relatives kept many people from even tasting the tubers.
Sir Walter Raleigh planted potatoes in his garden, ate the fruits (small berries after the flowers bloom), became extremely ill, and had the plants pulled up and destroyed. But the potato tuber is a very kind vegetable; it has few calories overall, a good amount of protein and vitamin C, and is adaptable to many growing conditions.
The potato plant is toxic, as are any sprouts from the eyes or potatoes that are green. Potatoes should be stored in the dark. Light stimulates the potato into "thinking" it is time to grow. The growing potato protects itself from herbivores with a number of glycoalkaloids, primarily solanine. Solanine can act as two different poisons depending upon how the body handles it.
If solanine is not broken into its components, then it behaves as an irritant and causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and either diarrhea or constipation. But when the toxin is broken into its saccharide and steroid alkamine components, it can be quickly fatal.
The alkamine attacks the nervous system causing apathy, drowsiness, weakness, circulatory and respiratory depression, unconsciousness, and death. The case of poisoning is most often a balance between the two forms of the toxin. Usually, the fatalities are children who have eaten green potatoes or farm animals that have eaten the plants.
Canada's Digital Collections has an excellent series of archived images on potatoes and potato farming. To view the images, click on the link:
http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/potato/default.htm
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What twelve plants supply most of the food...? Plants that Changed History - Aug 21, 2001
What slave food is more valuable than Inca gold? Plants that Changed History - October 9, 2001
What is a hairy potato? Renfield's Garden - October 10, 2001
What was the great Potato War? What's in a Name? - October 12, 2001
What common food plant was used for hunting? Herbal Folklore - October 15, 2001
What toxic plant feeds 500 million people? Plants that Changed History - October 16, 2001
What plant was blamed for the deaths of children? Herbal Folklore - October 22, 2001
What Ice Age morning glory feeds millions of people? Plants that Changed History - Oct 23, 2001
How do sweet potatoes protect themselves? Renfielsd's Garden - October 24, 2001
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