Why turmeric and ginger is not tuber but potato is considered as a tuber?

Why are turmeric and ginger not considered as tubers?

How do turmeric and ginger differ from potato in terms of being classified as tubers?

Answer:

Turmeric and ginger are rhizomes, stems that grow horizontally underground, storing starches and proteins, and serve for propagation. A potato, however, is a tuber, an enlarged part of the stem or root that stores nutrients and contains growth buds, often referred to as 'eyes'.

The distinction between turmeric, ginger, and potato lies in their plant structures. Turmeric and ginger are not tubers, but rather rhizomes, which are stems growing horizontally underground. The function of a rhizome, like in the case of turmeric and ginger, is to store starches and proteins and provide a propagation point for the plant.

On the other hand, a potato is considered a tuber because it is an enlarged portion of the stem or root designed to store nutrients during dormant periods. Unlike rhizomes, tubers generally grow downward as roots do and they contain buds that grow into new plants, often seen as 'eyes' in a potato.