Plant · GBIF taxon 2930137
Tomato
Solanum lycopersicumAlso known as Love Apple
Branching vines with deeply lobed, glandular leaves release a distinct pungent aroma when touched. Small yellow star-shaped flowers depend on buzz pollination by bees before swelling into fleshy berries ranging from yellow to bright crimson. Native to western South America, this iconic nightshade is now cultivated worldwide in thousands of unique cultivars.
CultivatedFloweringFruiting
Licensed referenceSofteis / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Nitrogen
- Potassium
Predators
- Tomato Hornworm
- Whiteflies
- Aphids
ThreatsBacterial blight, fungal diseases, frost, hornworms
HabitatsGardens, agricultural fields, disturbed ground
Life span1 year (annual in temperate regions)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- SpeciesSolanum lycopersicum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Foliage and green stems contain glycoalkaloids that are toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.
- Why it is dangerous
- Leaves, stems, and unripe green fruits contain tomatine and solanine, which cause gastrointestinal upset and lethargy in domestic pets.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by compound, gland-haired leaves that release a pungent aromatic scent when bruised.
- What to do
- Keep pet dogs and cats away from garden vines; mature red fruits are safe and harmless.
Responsible observation
- Pruning: Pinch off suckers growing in leaf axils to encourage larger fruit development.
- Pollination: Gently shake flower clusters or welcome bumblebees to promote buzz pollination.
- Sunlight: Provide at least six to eight hours of direct daily sunlight for optimum yield.
Herbivore "Tomato Hornworm" by Hillbraith is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0
Wild Ancestor 
Close Relative (c) jamie-aa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by jamie-aa · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Eran Finkle, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen / Public domain · cc0
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