Sweet Potato

Food plant native to tropical America and widely cultivated in tropical and the warmer temperate climates, not to be confused with the yam. It is reported from sites in Peru as early as 8000 BC. During the mid-1st millennium AD, the sweet potato was carried by prehistoric voyagers into eastern Polynesia and became important in the prehistoric economies of Easter Island, the Hawaiian Islands, and New Zealand. It spread further after Spanish settlement of the New World; since the 16th century it has been very important to the New Guinea Highlands.

Ipomoea batatas, the sweet potato, is of tropical American origin and is reported from sites in Peru as early as 8000 be. During the mid-1st millennium ad the tuber was carried by prehistoric voyagers into eastern Polynesia and became important in the prehistoric economies of Easter Island, the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand. Its further spread took place after Spanish settlement of the New World and since the 16th century it has become of great importance in the economies of the New Guinea Highlands.