The potato is an example of a modified stem, specifically a tuber.
1. Stem Modification: In some plants, the stem undergoes modification to perform specific functions such as storage, reproduction, or protection. Potatoes are an example of a stem modification that is primarily used for storage.
2. Tuber: A tuber is an underground storage organ that develops from a stem. In the case of the potato, the swollen part of the plant is actually a modified underground stem. The potato tuber stores nutrients, primarily starch, which the plant can use for growth and reproduction.
3. Characteristics of Potato Tubers:
o Nodes and Internodes: The potato tuber has nodes (small, bud-like structures), and internodes (the spaces between nodes). Each node can give rise to a new shoot, which is why potatoes can regenerate and produce new plants from pieces of the tuber.
o Eyes of the Potato: The "eyes" on a potato are actually buds (or lateral shoots) from which new shoots and roots can grow, making potatoes capable of vegetative reproduction.
Thus, a potato is an example of a modified stem known as a tuber. It serves as a storage organ for starch and can also give rise to new plants.