The Spud, as it’s affectionately called in England, follows closely in importance to the worldwide production of rice, corn, sugar cane, and wheat. It’s a versatile vegetable containing many of the important nutrients needed for a well-balanced diet. Indeed, it was the primary source of food for Irish families, who perished by the millions after the potato blight of 1845-52. It was a blow, some believe, from which the Irish have never recovered.
Many of us, having found a wayward potato at the back of the pantry, know they can sprout eyes, arms and legs. This is generally referred in layman’s speech as, “Going to Seed.” They also produce a beautiful little five lobed purple flower. Evidently, the flower became a favorite of the French aristocracy. The women wore the tiny flowers in their hair to enhance their beauty, and the men wore them in their buttonhole.
