1 : the usually large, rounded, edible, pulpy berry of an herb (genus Solanum) of the nightshade family native to South America that is typically red but may be yellow, orange, green, or purplish in color and is eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable.
Why is it called a tomato?
The tomato plant is native to South America, but was first domesticated by the Aztecs in present-day Mexico. Their word for the fruit was tomatl*, which means something like “the swelling fruit”. The Spanish brought it to the New World in the 16th century, calling it a tomate.
What is tomato called in science?
Solanum lycopersicum L.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) belongs to the Solanaceae family and is the second most important fruit or vegetable crop next to potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). It is cultivated for fresh fruit and processed products.
What is tomato Short answer?
1. a red or yellowish fruit with a juicy pulp, used as a vegetable: botanically it is a berry. 2. the annual plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) of the nightshade family, on which this berry grows.
Is tomato called a fruit?
To a botanist, a fruit is an entity that develops from the fertilized ovary of a flower. This means that tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, corn kernels, and bean and pea pods are all fruits; so are apples, pears, peaches, apricots, melons and mangos.
Who is first tomato?
The Tomato History has origins traced back to the early Aztecs around 700 A.D; therefore it is believed that the tomato is native to the Americas. It was not until around the 16th century that Europeans were introduced to this fruit when the early explorers set sail to discover new lands.
What is the original name of tomato?
The Latin Name for the tomato is Lysopersicon Esculentum (eventually renamed to Solanum Lycopersicum). A renowned French Botanist by the name of Joseph Pitton de Tournefort gave it the original latin name. Literally translated, the original Latin name translates as “Wolfpeach”.
Why tomato is a fruit?
Tomatoes are botanically defined as fruits because they form from a flower and contain seeds. Still, they’re most often utilized like a vegetable in cooking. In fact, the US Supreme Court ruled in 1893 that the tomato should be classified as a vegetable on the basis of its culinary applications.
What type of fruit is tomato?
Although in culinary terms, tomato is regarded as a vegetable, its fruit is classified botanically as a berry. As a true fruit, it develops from the ovary of the plant after fertilization, its flesh comprising the pericarp walls.
Which type of plant is tomato?
tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum), flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), cultivated extensively for its edible fruits.
What are uses of tomato?
People use tomato for cancer prevention, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don’t confuse tomato with lycopene, the antioxidant found in tomatoes.
What are in tomatoes?
Tomatoes are loaded with a substance called lycopene. It gives them their bright red color and helps protect them from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. In much the same way, it can help protect your cells from damage. Tomatoes also have potassium, vitamins B and E, and other nutrients.
Where is tomato from?
From its origins as a wild plant in the Americas to the thousands of varieties grown around the world today, tomatoes have evolved into one of the world’s most popular food crops. Today’s tomatoes began as wild plants in the Andes, growing in parts of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Why is a tomato called a vegetable?
To summarise, tomatoes are usually prepared in savoury dishes despite botanically being a fruit, which is why they are often described as a vegetable from a culinary perspective.
What defines a fruit?
A fruit is a mature, ripened ovary, along with the contents of the ovary. The ovary is the ovule-bearing reproductive structure in the plant flower. The ovary serves to enclose and protect the ovules, from the youngest stages of flower development until the ovules become fertilized and turn into seeds.
What fruit is a vegetable?
A lot of foods that are (botanically speaking) fruits, but which are used in savory dishes rather than sweet ones, are typically considered vegetables by chefs. This includes such botanical fruits as eggplants, bell peppers and tomatoes, according to EUFIC.
How do tomatoes grow?
Tomatoes are split into two main growing types: determinate (bush) and indeterminate (cordon). Bush types are usually planted in pots or hanging baskets and their stems trail around the edge. Cordon types are trained to grow tall and are supported by a cane or stake.
Are tomatoes good for you?
It’s also one of the best things you can do for your body. Its rich red color comes from lycopene, a powerful antioxidant plentiful in just a few foods. Plus, a large tomato offers decent amounts of vitamin C and potassium, which lowers blood pressure. Locally grown tomatoes may be your best bet for health and taste.
Is potato a fruit?
Potatoes are tubers, which are a sort of root vegetable. They aren’t the potato plant’s roots themselves, but rather the roots that they grow from. Potatoes are absolutely edible, and they’re virtually always used in savoury meals, whether with or without meat. Potatoes, on the other hand, are not fruits.
What’s another name for tomato?
Lycopersicon Esculentum, tomato plant, love apple, tomato.
Which fruit is a love Apple?
tomato
The Love Apple. The French called the tomato the pomme d’amour, or the Love Apple, for their belief that the exotic tomato had aphrodisiac powers.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.