What is the difference between a yam and a sweet potato?

pip321

There's actually quite a difference between a yam and a sweet potato. The link summarizes the differences in a nice chart format. http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/vegetables/sweetpotato.html Oct 13 08, 8:38 PM

zbeckabee

Yams -- Yams are closely related to lilies and grasses. Native to Africa and Asia, yams vary in size from that of a small potato to a record 130 pounds (as of 1999). There are over 600 varieties of yams and 95% of these crops are grown in Africa. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier. Sweet Potatoes -- The many varieties of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are members of the morning glory family, Convolvulacea. The skin color can range from white to yellow, red, purple or brown. The flesh also ranges in color from white to yellow, orange, or orange-red. Sweet potato varieties are classified as either ‘firm’ or ‘soft’. When cooked, those in the ‘firm’ category remain firm, while ‘soft’ varieties become soft and moist. It is the ‘soft’ varieties that are often labeled as yams in the United States. http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/sweetpotato.html Oct 13 08, 9:12 PM