Lycopersicon esculentum is an annual herb, stems green, sprawling, freely branched, finely sticky-hairy, sap yellow-green, irritating with characteristic scent.
Leaves alternate, to 30 cm long, pinnate, irregularly lobed and toothed very variable.
Flowers yellow, to 1 cm wide, radially symmetrical (regular), 5 petals with pointed tips, anthers together around stigma in a central, cone-shaped cluster, ovary superior; self-fertile (autogamous), (Wyatt 1983).
Fruit fleshy, soft, usually red-orange, very juicy with numerous seeds; blooms and fruits July-Sept.
Origin: S. America, Andes.
Wetland status: UPL.
Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent.
Origin: S. America, Andes.
Habitat: Escaped from cultivation in open sites, or illegally cultivated in parks. Not persistent.
Notes: Plant and unripe fruit contain a complex of toxic glycoalkaloids termed solanine that cause both neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms.(Kingsbury 1964).