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Batata
The BATATA (called sweet potato or American potato) is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the Convulvulaceae family. Unlike the potato, which is a tuber, it is a root, more similar to the carrot. The stalk of the plant, creeping or climbing, reaches a length of between 3 to 6 meters. The bell-shaped flowers appear in clumps of 3 or 4 small axillary buds. The roots form big tuberous swellings, bigger than potatoes.
The soft, sweet meaty pulp comes in different colors, varying between white, yellow-orange and violet. Nowadays it is the seventh most cultivated crop in the world, with more than 133 million tons produced annually in more than 100 tropical countries. 95% of the production comes from developing countries. The biggest producer is China. Sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, providing a high amount of energy, and vitamin A, crucial for the sight. The edible green leaves of the plant also contain important nutritional elements: proteins, vitamins and minerals.
(16/06/2006)
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