Solanum lycopersicum
Tomatoes are a sprawling plant 3-10 feet tall, with small yellow flowers and a weak woody stem. The leaves and stem are hairy. The fruit ranges in size from small (Cherry Tomato), medium (Early Girls and Plum Tomatoes) to large (Beefsteak)! Tomatoes are colorful - yellow, orange, red, deep red, purple - you name it!
Commonly mistaken for a vegetable, tomatoes can be served raw as a salad. Cooked, they make great pasta or pizza sauces. High in vitamin A and C, low in calorie content, and contains anti-oxidant lycopene (helps prevents cancer), tomatoes are great contribution to a healthy diet.
Tomatoes have been cultivated since 500 B.C.E. by the Aztecs. They were brought to Europe by Spanish explorers in the latter 15th or early 16th century. Today, there are about 7,500 varieties commonly grown!
