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"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
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| Mangrove Finches fighting for survival. |
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.
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| Very Tiny Wild Currant Tomatoes |
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.
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.
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.
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| 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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