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Charles Zidar
ANCIENT MAYA BOTANICAL RESEARCH |
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| Family: | Solanaceae | | Genus: | Lycopersicum | | Species: | esculentum | | Authority: | L. | | Common Name: | tomato | | Maya Name: | xtomatl and tomatl | | Maya Plant Use: | The cherry tomato grows wild in Central America and Peru; the Maya called it xtomatl or tomatl, while the Spanish called it tomate.
Tomatoes originated in Central America. When they were taken to Europe in the 1500's, people were afraid to eat them because they belong to the Nightshade family of plants. Tomatoes did not become widely used until the early 1800's
(See Economic Botany: Plants In Our World, Simpson and Ogorzaly 1995).
| | Notes: | Solanum esculentum Drege ex Dun.
Add: Lycopersicum esculentum? |
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