What counts as a vegetable?

So, I probably should have posed this question earlier on.  I had this question earlier in the week when I wanted to have a bake potato and count it towards my 5 a day.  I had remembered hearing that a potato doesn't count (even though it is a vegetable).  I did a quick search on good and found a website that said it doesn't count towards your daily servings of vegetables and is considered a starch.  So, I just went along with that website.  Anyway, the discussion came up again yesterday when discussing if a chick pea was a vegetable.  So, I did a little more research tonight.  There are many websites claiming that a potato doesn't count, but what do they know?  The all knowing government says it does, so I think we should go with that.  I am sorry if I caused confusion to anyone out there.  Here is a list of vegetables and sub categories according the government.   Here is the link http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/vegetables.html  I, don't think french fries count, though.  But, what do I know?  I didn't even think a chick pea was a vegetable.
 

What foods are in the vegetable group?

Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of the vegetable group. Vegetables may be raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; and may be whole, cut-up, or mashed.

Vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups, based on their nutrient content. Some commonly eaten vegetables in each subgroup are:

Dark green vegetables bok choy broccoli collard greens dark green leafy lettuce kale mesclun mustard greens romaine lettuce spinach turnip greens watercress Orange vegetables acorn squash butternut squash carrots hubbard squash pumpkin sweetpotatoes Dry beans and peas black beans black-eyed peas garbanzo beans (chickpeas) kidney beans lentils lima beans (mature) navy beans pinto beans soy beans split peas tofu (bean curd made from soybeans) white beans	Starchy vegetables corn green peas lima beans (green) potatoes Other vegetables artichokes asparagus bean sprouts beets Brussels sprouts cabbage cauliflower celery cucumbers eggplant green beans green or red peppers iceberg (head) lettuce mushrooms okra onions parsnips tomatoes tomato juice vegetable juice turnips wax beans zucchini