Potato Tuber

Explore a potato (*Solanum tuberosum*) in 3D! This familiar food offers a useful introduction to plant anatomy, energy storage, and vegetative reproduction. A potato is a stem tuber—an enlarged underground stem that stores carbohydrates, primarily starch. Its “eyes” are buds that can develop into shoots, allowing a new plant to grow from a tuber or a piece containing an eye. The outer skin, or periderm, helps protect the tissues beneath it and reduce water loss. Rotate the model to examine its external form and locate any visible eyes. Use it for biology lessons, botanical observation, food education, or discussions of agriculture and crop propagation. Classroom connection: Compare a potato stem tuber with a sweet potato storage root. Both store energy, but they develop from different plant organs.