Plant · GBIF taxon 2930137
Tomato
Solanum lycopersicumAlso known as Garden Tomato, Love Apple
Garden tomatoes grow as sprawling, glandular-hairy vines that emit a rich, pungent aroma when touched. Native to western South America, these nightshades rely heavily on buzz pollination from bees to set their vibrant yellow blossoms into fleshy berries. Modern cultivars range from tiny cherry varieties to massive beefsteaks, occupying agricultural fields and gardens across the globe.
CultivatedAnnual VineNightshade
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Tomato Hornworm
- Aphid
- Whitefly
ThreatsFungal blights, insect pests, frost, heat stress
HabitatsGardens, agricultural fields, disturbed soils
Life span1 year (annual in cultivation)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderSolanales
- FamilySolanaceae
- GenusSolanum
- SpeciesSolanum lycopersicum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Foliage and green stems contain solanine, which is toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.
- Why it is dangerous
- Foliage and green stems contain solanine and tomatine, causing digestive distress in pets if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for fuzzy green vines with compound leaves and yellow star-shaped flowers emitting a strong herbal scent.
- What to do
- Keep vines away from curious pets, and wash hands after handling dense foliage.
Responsible observation
- Support Stems: Install sturdy stakes or wire cages early to keep heavy branches off the soil.
- Water Base: Apply water directly at soil level to prevent fungal diseases on leaves.
- Prune Suckers: Pinch out small side shoots appearing in leaf axils to boost fruit size.
Pollinator Marco Almbauer / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative (c) Eran Finkle, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) jamie-aa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by jamie-aa · cc-by
Toxic Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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