Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Solanum lycopersicum

Synonyms

Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. cerasiforme (Dunal) Alef.
Lycopersicon cerasiforme Dunal
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.
Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) H.Karst. ex Farw.
Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme (Dunal) D.M. Spooner, G.J. Anderson & R.K. Jansen

Family

Solanaceae

Common Names

cherry tomato, cultivated cherry tomato, edible tomato, garden tomato, tomato, wild cherry tomato

Origin

The exact native range of this species is obscure, because of its long history in cultivation, but it originated in the America's. It is considered to be native to parts of north-western South America (i.e. Ecuador and Peru) and may also be native to parts of Central America and Mexico.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in many parts of Australia, particularly in warmer and wetter coastal districts. It is most common and widespread in eastern Queensland and is occasionally naturalised in the northern and southern parts of the Northern Territory, in the coastal districts of central New South Wales and in the coastal districts of western and northern Western Australia. Also naturalised on Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Christmas Island, sparingly naturalised in South Australia, and possibly naturalised in the ACT.

Naturalised overseas on several Pacific islands (i.e. the Galápagos Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue and Hawaii) and in New Zealand, as well as in many other parts of the world.

Notes

Cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme) is a minor environmental weed or potential environmental weed in northern Australia and is seen as a "sleeper weed" in many other parts of Australia. Because it is an edible garden plant, cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme ) it is often seen as being harmless. In recent years it has become common in natural habitats in the wetter parts of northern Australia that are near habitation, and its potential impact on the environment may be underestimated.

The cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme) is spread into natural areas by birds and other animals that eat its fruit. It is commonly naturalised along waterways, in riparian areas, and in revegetation sites in Queensland. It is also naturalised on the edges of rivers in the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia.

In the Galápagos Islands, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) hybridises with the native Lycopersicon cheesmanii and is threatening its survival on some islands through genetic contamination of natural populations.

Note: the cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme) mainly differs from many of the larger garden tomato cultivars ( Lycopersicon esculentum var. esculentum) in the smaller size of its fruit. Garden tomatos (i.e. cultivars ofLycopersicon esculentum var. esculentum) are probably not fully naturalised in Australia, though they are occasionally found growing close to habitation.