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Plant Identification Learning Module:
Vegetables

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Tomato plants are either bushy or vining. Leaves are compound, deeply divided, green and soft-textured. When rubbed they have a distinctive smell, somewhat reminiscent of the tomato fruit. The stems are somewhat weak and often require staking or support. Both the stems and the leaves are slightly rough and fuzzy. Fruits vary in shape (round, pear, oblong); in color (red, pink, yellow, green, white); and in size (cherry size to 1 pound or more). The seed is small, fuzzy, tan in color and resembles eggplant and pepper seed. Flowers are borne in clusters, small (½-inch diameter or less), with a yellow open corolla attached to a green calyx.