Why Do Potatoes Have "Eyes" and "Eyebrows"?

The small dents in a potato are what people have long been calling its "eyes." But these eyes are really buds on the potato, buds that have not developed. However, these buds are important to potato farmers, for it is from them that new potato plants will grow.

Each potato is cut apart, with a bud, or eye, in each section and planted. The cut section of potato sends food to the bud as it grows into a leafy shoot. Then one section of the shoot thickens and forms a new potato.

A potato's "eyebrow" is really the scar left by a tiny leaf that grew on the potato as it was developing.

Each potato can produce six or more new potatoes!

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