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Glite Dictionary
Lycopersicum

Lycopersicum

9.9
An old scientific name for tomatoes and similar plants now called Solanum
  • noun
  • /ˌlaɪkəˈpɜrsɪkəm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Lycopersicum
  • The Lycopersicum plant thrives in warm climates.
  • Lycopersicon lycopersicum

Examples

  • The plant once classified as Lycopersicum esculentum is now known as Solanum lycopersicum.

  • Some heirloom seed catalogues still refer to tomatoes as Lycopersicum varieties.

  • The scientific name Lycopersicum was commonly used for tomatoes in older botanical texts.

  • Many botanists refer to Lycopersicum in their studies.

  • The tomato belongs to the genus Lycopersicum, which was once widely used in botanical classifications.

  • In historical texts, Lycopersicum is often mentioned as the scientific name for the tomato plant.

  • Botanists previously categorized the tomato under the genus Lycopersicum before reclassifying it.

Synonyms

genus Lycopersicon
vsLycopersicum
  • Archaic
9.8

A group of plants that once included the tomato but is now placed in Solanum

is used mainly as a historical botanical name rather than current classification
genus Lycopersicum
vsLycopersicum
  • Specialized
8.9

A group of flowering plants that includes the tomato and some wild relatives

is a former name used in botanical history not the presently accepted genus

Compounds

genus Lycopersicum
  • Specialized
8.9

A group of flowering plants that includes the tomato and some wild relatives

Surface Forms

Lycopersicum singular
Lycopersica plural

Etymology

Lycopersicum comes from Greek parts lyco- meaning 'wolf' and persicum meaning 'peach', so it once meant 'wolf-peach'. Because early Europeans called the tomato a 'wolf-peach', scientists used Lycopersicum as the old scientific name for the tomato plant, which is why you still see it in older books.