A List of Root Vegetables You'll Thank Us for Giving You

Is potato a root vegetable? Is it a root? Just go through the list of root vegetables to find out!
Tilottama Chatterjee
Last Updated: Jan 24, 2018
Did You Know?
All root vegetables are not roots!
Root vegetables are underground parts of plants that are edible. They vary widely in form and structure, and are classified according to the part of the plant that is consumed as a vegetable. Many of these are nutritionally rich, and some starchy varieties form important staple foods of communities across the world. Here we shall look at the many different root vegetables.All root vegetables are not roots!
Classification of Root Vegetables
Root vegetables are either roots or underground stems of the plant. Wondering how stems can grow underground? Well, some plants have modified stems, and these perform different functions. Although the term root vegetable entails plants where the underground portions are used, their usage need not be limited to only these parts. Many plants such as turnips and celery are utilized for their roots as well as their stalks and greens. Here we have classified root vegetables into two types:
- True roots
- Modified stems
List of Root Vegetables
The following list of root vegetables is categorized as per the classification that we have discussed above. Have a look!
True Roots
As the name suggests, true roots are nothing but the roots of the plant, as opposed to other underground parts. True roots can be further classified into taproots and tuberous roots. A taproot is a thick central root from which lateral branches emerge. However, tuberous roots are modified lateral roots that function as storage organs.
Taproots
- Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorriza)
- Black cumin (Bunium persicum)
- Daikon (Raphanus sativus)
- Maca (Lepidium meyenii)
- Yam Daisy (Microseris lanceolata)
- Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus)
- Black salsify (Scorzonera hispanica)
- Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)
- Bush Carrots (Abelmoschus moschatus)
- Beet (Beta vulgaris)
- Rutabaga (Brassica napobrassica)
- Burdock root (Genus Arctium)
- Carrot (Daucus carota)
- Celeriac (Apium graveolens)
- Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
- Parsley root (Petroselinum crispum)
- Radish (Raphanus sativus)
- Skirret (Sium sisarum)
- Pencil yam (Vigna lanceolata)
- Turnip (Brassica rapa)
Tuberous Roots
- Native ginger (Alpinia caerulea)
- Yellow lily yam (Amorphophallus glabra)
- Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)
- Desert yam (Ipomoea costata)
- Prairie turnip or breadroot (Psoralea esculenta)
- Pignut (Conopodium majus)
- Cassava (Manihot esculenta)
- Mauka or chago (Mirabilis expansa)
- Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius)
- Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Modified Stems
In some plants, the underground part of the stem is modified to function as a storage organ. Modified stems are further classified into corms, rhizomes, tubers, and bulbs.
Corms
- Konjac (Amorphophallus konjac)
- Taro (Colocasia esculenta)
- Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis)
- Enset (Ensete ventricosum)
- Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
- Gladiolus (Gladiolus communis)
- Banana (Genus:Musa)
- Pulaka (Cyrtosperma merkusii)
Rhizomes
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Arrowroot (Canna edulis)
- Ginseng (Genus: Panax)
- Canna lily (Genus: Canna)
- Vanilla lily (Genus: Arthropodium)
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
- Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)
- Lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera)
- Galangal (Alpinia galanga)
- Fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda)
Tubers
- Groundnut (Arachis villosulicarpa)
- Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus)
- Yams (Genus: Dioscorea)
- Oca (Oxalis tuberosa)
- Chinese potato (Plectranthus rotundifolius)
- Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
- Chinese artichoke (Stachys affinis)
- Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus)
Bulbs
- Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Onion (Allium cepa)
- Quamash (Camassia quamash)
- Bush onion (Cyperus bulbosus)
- Trout lily (Erythronium americanum)
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Polynesian arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides)
- Lily (Genus: Lilium)
In addition to these, there are quite a few members of the family Orchidaceae that produce edible bulbs. The names of the genus of these orchids are as given below.
- Caladenia
- Cryptostylis
- Cymbidium
- Diuris
- Dipodium
- Geodorum
- Glossodia
- Lypernathus
- Microtis
- Prasophyllum
- Pterostylis
- Thelymitra
Root vegetables are rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibers. Not only this, they are also rich sources of essential minerals and vitamins. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, and add a few of these veggies in your diet to stay healthy!