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Galapagos Tomato Flower Wikimedia Commons
Solanaceae

Galapagos Tomato Flower

Solanum cheesmaniae

Resilience in isolation.

Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Native to
Galapagos Islands
Bloom season
Year-Round
Type
Perennial
Height
0.5-2 meters
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Volcanic, well-draining
Water
Low to moderate
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • This tomato species is endemic to the Galapagos Islands, growing wild on volcanic lava fields.
  • It is salt-tolerant, an unusual trait that plant breeders have tried to introduce into commercial tomatoes.
  • Charles Darwin collected specimens of this plant during his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle.
  • The tiny orange-yellow fruits are edible and have a sweet, intense tomato flavor.
  • It is named after Evelyn Cheesman, one of the first female entomologists to work in the Pacific.

Color meanings

0

Adaptation

1

Survival

2

Uniqueness

Uses

  • Genetic research
  • Plant breeding
  • Conservation botany