I
made a post about wild tomato species on November 2017. Now I am
describing a few new species (+ some photos of previously described
ones).
 |
The comparison of fruits of 2 native Galapagos Islands Tomato species - Lycopersicon galapagense (on left) and L. cheesmaniae (on right) |
SOLANUM
SECT. LYCOPERSICON
“NEOLYCOPERSICON
group”
Wild
Tomato (Lycopersicon pennellii = Solanum
pennellii) this is wild species native
to Northern Peru (Piura) to northern Chile (Tarapacá) (dry rocky
places and sandy areas at sea level to 3000 m = 10 000ft). It is very
different species than others (with specific appearance) and it
belongs to monotypic “Neolycopersicon group” – intermediate
between tomatoes and potatoes. It is unknown in its fruits are edible
or not, but they have rather not bad taste. This species is sometimes
used to grafting giant (about 8m = 27ft tall) vine – Solanum
ochranthum = Lycopersicon ochranthum (Solanum
section Juglandifolia),
to obtain small (2m = 7ft tall) plants with fruits in a second year
of growing.
 |
The flowers of Lycopersicon pennellii are very characteristic... |
 |
...the same as leaves |
 |
The ripe fruits fall down and they break when they are overripe |
 |
This is very unusuall tomato species |
“
ERIOPERSICON”
group”
Chilean
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon chilense =
Solanum chilense) - (sub-)tropical
perennial about 1m (=3ft) tall or even more, with silver-gray leaves
and stems (often very fragile). Fruits are 1-1,5cm (= 0,4-0,6 inch)
diameter, pale green, densely soft pubescent, tasty. I grew 2
accessions (one smaller and one robust – about 2m = 6ft tall). As
the most wild tomato species it matures rather lately. Should be sown
early.
Smaller form:
 |
This species has characteristic long penducle |
 |
Whole plant is very very fragile |
 |
Immature fruits |
 |
Ripe fruits |
Larger form of Lycopersicon chilense:
 |
The characteristic very long penducle |
 |
The leaf |
 |
The fruits of this form were bicolored |
Hairy
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon hirsutum
var. typicum = L. agrimoniifolium, L.
hirsutum var. agrimoniifolium,
Solanum habrochaites) – I described
this species before. I tried growing it again in last year but with
almost no success. Only a few fruits have ripened. This is the latest
wild tomato species. But it grows very large and creates huge,
beauty, golden flowers, so it is worth of growing as late summer and
fall ornamental in northern temperate areas.
 |
This is very ornamental tomato |
 |
It starts to blooming in end of summer and flower to mid/late autumn |
 |
It is very very cold tolerant, but not frost resistant |
 |
Young fruits |
 |
The fruits of this botanical variety has flexible permament hairs |
 |
The fruits ripes very late (very poorly in my norther temperate area) |
Hairy
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon hirsutum
var. glabratum) is very different botanical variety.
 |
This variety has fruits with fragile hairs, which can be easily removed |
 |
It flowers earlier and has something smaller flowers and glabrescent leaves |
Peruvian
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon peruvianum =
Solanum peruvianum) – in last season
I grew other (the third) accession. The photos are bellow.
 |
This species blooms very abundantly |
 |
The ripe fruits are very tasty (with different aroma than common tomato) |
“ARCANUM
group”
Wild
Tomato (Lycopersicon arcanum = Solanum
arcanum) – last season I harvested
more fruits than in pervious. When it grows in smaller pot it is much
earlier.
 |
This species creates long, not dense shoots |
 |
... and small firm fruits |
 |
Ripe fruits (about 1cm = 0,4inch diameter) |
Chmielewsky’s
Wild Toamato (Lycopersicon chmielewskii
= Solanum chmielewskii) – I am
posting only new fruits photos. Easy, but needs to be sown early.
Fruits have specific taste (“lemony”).
 |
The species similar to previous one... |
 |
But with something larger fruits .. |
 |
... and leaves lemon-like fragrant |
Small-flower
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon parviflorum =
Solanum neorickii) – I had no success
with this plant, due to dangerous disease (probably bacterial canker)
present on the seeds (so I needed to kill young plants and destroy
them to not spread the disease to other plants). I will try again,
but will soak the seeds in antibacterial Kocide before sowing.
 |
The seeds are very small (the coin on the photo is size about 1 inch = 2,5cm) |
“LYCOPERSICON”
group
Galapagos
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon cheesmaniae =
Solanum cheesmaniae) - this is tropical
perennial - slender to robust and viny, to 4m (=13ft) in long. Fruits
are 0,6-1,4cm (= 0,2-0,6 inch) diameter, yellow, quite sweet and
without acidity, very delicious. Seeds small. It grows in nature on
Galapagos Islands, on much higher altitudes than L. galapagense. I
grew true species, not hybrid.
 |
This species is very different than its cousin - L. galapagense |
 |
Ripe fruits are pale yellow |
 |
... and mature late |
 |
They are very delicious, sweetish |
Galapagos
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon galapagense =
Solanum cheesmaniae var. minor)
– I grew “dense leaf” form last year. I was informed that the
fruits of this species are inedible (and ever mildly poisonous! - some sources such said), but it can be not truth.
 |
It have much divided leaves - "fern-like" |
 |
... very small flowers |
 |
Overripe fruits |
Currant
Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon
pimpinellifolium var. pimpinellifolium
= Solanum pimpinellifolium) – I grew
true species. It was small plant with long racemes of small (1cm =
0,4inch) diameter, red fruits. Hard skin. Very easy and early.
 |
This species has long, narrow petals |
 |
Small red fruits have quite strong skin |
 |
The coin is size about 1 inch = 2,5cm
|
Usual Wild Tomato (Lycopersicon
esculentum =
Solanum lycopersicon) (a wild form from
Florida) – it is very easy and early, very prolific. The vines
grows into giant, dense bushes over 2m (7ft) tall. Fruits are about
2-2,5cm diameter (0,8-1 inch), tender skinned and very delicious.
 |
It has wider petals... |
 |
... and larger fruits with soft skin (very delicious) |
SOLANUM SECT. JUGLANDIFOLIA:
Lycopersicon ochranthum (syn. Solanum ochranthum) - mentioned already above species (tall wood vine, sometimes garfted on L. penellii). I have not sown it in previous season, but I am showing a photo of seeds which are quite large (probably the largest in genus Lycopersicon):
 |
The coin on the photo is size about 1 inch = 2,5cm |
This is a very informative post please keep sharing this kind of information about plants and herbs.
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Thank you for sharing your work! Do you collect the seeds yourself? I would love to try growing some of these myself.
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