The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a warm season root crop. Moist, sweet flesh types of sweet potatoes are sometimes called yams, but these should not be confused with true yams (Dioscorea sp.). Cultivars with high orange-colored flesh contain much higher levels of carotenoids than less pigmented types. Sweet potato flavor is largely based on starch and sugar concentrations, and these are affected by cultivars and storage conditions.