Tamera's Take: Where the Wild "Ancestors" Are, Cats, and Darwin's Finches

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Tamera's Take is about being here.
Are you ready? I am.

"Seeing every height crowned with its crater, and the boundaries of most of the lava-streams still distinct, we are led to believe that within a period, geologically recent, the unbroken ocean was here spread out. Hence, in both space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat nearer to that great fact--that mystery of mysteries--the first appearance of new beings on this earth."
---Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle

Mangrove Finches fighting for survival.

Charles Darwin Foundation

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos, Ecuador

a Tel: (593) 5 2526-146/2527-013 Ext 101

In 1835, long before he began to formulate the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin sailed to the Galapagos Islands on the H.M.S. Beagle.

Much of the same flora and fauna that inspired Darwin's The Origin of Species still exists on the Galapagos today. Appropriately, ninety-seven percent of the island is national park. Two of his studies included the Mangrove Finch and the Wild Currant Tomato.

A few days ago as my husband and I walked through the empty lot on the way to Frema's tienda, we saw hundreds of red berries sprawling among the other weeds and flowers.  No. Wait. Not berries. The tiniest tomatoes (tomates) I have ever seen.

Very Tiny Wild Currant Tomatoes

I picked one tomato and put it in my pocket so I could do a little research on it when I got home. My husband said, "don't forget that's in your pocket". "I won't", I said. Of course I forgot about it.

I pulled the squished little tomato from my pocket and grabbed our laptop.

Known to botanists as Solanum Pimpinellifolium, the plant is the wild ancestor of all the domestic tomatoes we eat today, and still grows wild in northern Peru and southern Ecuador.

The common name is Wild Currant Tomato.

Amazed at our discovery, I go back to the vacant lot to take pictures and bring back a few more tomates. My first thought as I pick 4 or 5 to bring back home is that they are probably bitter and/or poisonous.

According to SmithsonianMag they are not poisonous or bitter. We each try one. They are sweet and delicious. According to Smithsonian, Science Daily and a few other websites, they are also rare and vanishing from the wild. Unfortunately a fact with so many things in the world.

I spent a couple of hours on research with the thought that Wild Currant Tomatoes might make for an interesting blog. Although, one patch of tomatoes in one vacant lot could hardly be noteworthy to many people. I shelved the idea.

Except that I wanted to grow some myself.

Seeds.

If I have the tomatoes, then I have the seeds. One more trip to the vacant lot. As I look at the green and ripe tomatoes, I notice the hundreds of little yellow flowers that will soon be fruiting.

How did this plant get here?  Maybe they are not wild. Maybe someone threw out some tomatoes or an old plant, and they managed to reproduce. As much as I read about these little tomatoes, I really do not have any practical information on how to grow them.

I shelve the blog (again) AND the idea of growing the tomatoes.

Two days later, on one of our walks, we happen to find another sprawling patch of tiny tomatoes. I am convinced now that they truly are Wild Currant Tomatoes.

Do I have my phone with me so I can take pictures. No.

As we get to the end of the unpaved road I take a visual survey of our location so I can come back later to take pictures.

After more research I find that there have been a number of expeditions to Ecuador to locate, document and gather samples. Studies have determined that the Currant Tomato has natural genetic properties that make it drought and disease resistant. Apparently Solanum Pimpinellifolium has become an important species in the cross breeding of domestic tomatoes.

CATS cannot eat tomatoes! Really.

I do not have any intention of creating a hybrid tomato, but I do intend to grow my own tiny tomatoes, albeit slightly less "wild".

I am drying out a batch of seeds now.  I will let you know how it goes.

A shout out to You Grow Girl for some down to earth (pun intended) information on growing these wild plants in your garden!

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