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The Wild tomato (Solanum sisymbrifolium) belongs to Solanaceae (the Nightshade family). It is an annual herb that is a member of the "nightshade" native to South America, it is a weed that grows on cultivated land. This herb was introduced by the British Army during the Boer Wars (1899-1902) as a plant that is harmful to horse fodder. It is now spread all over the world. It was introduced to Japan in the late Edo period (1603-1867) as an ornamental plant. It is about 90 cm high and has sharp orange spines on its stems and veins. The bluish white flowers come in summer and fall, but the bright yellow stamens stand out. After the flowers, fruits are formed and ripen red.
In recent years, this variety has become popular in home gardens under the name "Lychee tomato". Although it closely resembles the "Horse nettle", the fruit is not toxic, and when ripe, it is characterized by a fresh sweetness and a fruity tartness.
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