The name Lycopersicon (from Greek λύκοπερσικων meaning “wolf peach”) is still used by gardeners, farmers, and seed companies. Collectively, the species in this group apart from the common cultivated plant are called wild tomatoes.
What are the wild species of tomato?
Tomatoes are Wild
- Tomato species. Like other species, wild tomato species each have a scientific name.
- Solanum lycopersicum. This species is the only tomato with two named varieties.
- Solanum cheesmaniae.
- Solanum galapagense.
- Solanum pimpinellifolium.
- Solanum neorickii.
- Solanum chmielewskii.
- Solanum arcanum.
Do wild tomatoes still exist?
There are only 13 species of wild tomatoes occurring in different habitats in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
What is a native tomato?
Tomatoes are native to South America, in fact, several species are still found growing wild in the Andes. Brought to Mexico, tomatoes were domesticated and cultivated there by 500 BC.
What is a bush tomato called?
Solanum sp.
This large genus provides the world with tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. It has representatives in the Australian flora. The so called “Bush Tomato or Desert Raisin” is Solanum centrale (also called Kutjera) which inhabits the dry inland areas of Australia. It is the tomato found in native food cuisine.
Are wild tomatoes edible?
Can you eat wild tomatoes? While these little tomatoes are not as widespread as before, if you did happen across some wild tomatoes, do not be confused with volunteer garden tomatoes that have simply popped up elsewhere, they would be totally edible and quite flavorful, with a bright, orange-red color.
Is lycopersicon poisonous?
These “wild tomatoes” are poisonous.
Can you grow wild tomatoes?
Today’s vegetable gardeners can still get a taste of those early tomatoes by planting Matt’s Wild Cherry tomatoes. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers packets of these wild tomato seeds that are said to have been” collected in the wild near Hildago in Mexico.”
Can you eat volunteer tomatoes?
You might be wondering, can you eat volunteer tomatoes—the answer is, yes! The fruits of volunteer tomatoes should be just as tasty as the tomatoes you’ve grown intentionally. Just make sure you wait for the tomatoes to ripen and turn red before eating them.
Can you eat patio tomatoes?
Patio hybrid is excellent for containers and small gardens, bearing tasty 3 to 4 oz tomatoes on strong, compact plants that grow only 2 feet tall.
Are heirloom tomatoes the original tomato?
To truly be considered an heirloom tomato, the original plant that gave birth to generations of seeds must be traceable back to at least 1951, though many of the heirloom varieties we enjoy today are more than 100 years old.
How did Native Americans eat tomatoes?
The tomato in its original form, however, was not the prolific red globe we know and love today. It was a small, fragrant fruit (picture a cherry tomato) that the Native Americans ground up and combined with ahi, a kind of chili pepper, to make a spicy sauce.
Are wild tomatillos edible?
The tomatillo is a tomato-like vegetable in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family native to Meixco and Central America. The round, green fruits have a tart flavor and are used raw, cooked, or dried. All parts of the plant are poisonous except the ripe fruits.
What are the two types of tomatoes?
Determinate and Indeterminate
When selecting tomato varieties, you must choose between plants with different types of growth habits called determinate or indeterminate. All tomatoes are either one or the other. Determinate varieties (including bush varieties) reach a certain plant height and then stop growing.
Can you eat bush tomatoes?
While the mature yellow fruit can be eaten fresh, bush tomato is usually used in its dried form. It has a distinctive raisin / caramel introduction with a strong spicy aftertaste, making it ideal for chutneys, curries, salsas and as a crust on meat.
Is Roma a bush tomato?
Roma is a bush or determinate variety which produces plum tomatoes ideal for sauces and purees.
Are tomatoes poisonous nightshade?
Myth: Nightshade vegetables contain a toxic alkaloid
Contrary to the rumours, however, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes — even the green ones — do not produce solanine and are perfectly safe to eat, he says.
Can I eat black nightshade?
It contains a chemical that can be toxic when consumed. Black nightshade contains a chemical called solanine which is poisonous to humans. The green fruits contain the highest amounts of solanine and therefore are the most toxic parts of the plant.
Why were tomatoes considered poisonous?
In the late 1700s, a large percentage of Europeans feared the tomato. A nickname for the fruit was the “poison apple” because it was thought that aristocrats got sick and died after eating them, but the truth of the matter was that wealthy Europeans used pewter plates, which were high in lead content.
Are all wild tomatoes poisonous?
Tomatoes are a nightshade, and many of its wild relatives are indeed poisonous.
Is Lycopersicon edible?
The tomato is the edible berry of the plant Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as the tomato plant.