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Cyphomandra betacea - (Cav.)Sendtn.

Common Name Tree Tomato
Family Solanaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards The unripe fruit is slightly toxic[200].
Habitats Dry soils at forest margins[200]. Open forests at medium to high altitudes[260].
Range S. America - Peru.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Cyphomandra betacea Tree Tomato


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Cyphomandra betacea Tree Tomato
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cillas

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Cyphomandra betacea is an evergreen Tree growing to 5 m (16ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. crassicaulis. (Ortega.)Kuntze.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[3, 46, 61]. The flavour can vary considerably from tree to tree, the best forms are juicy and sub-acid, they are eaten out of hand, added to salads, used in preserves, jams, jellies etc[183, 196]. The fruit contains about 150 IU vitamin A per 100g, 25mg vitamin C, it is rich in vitamin E and iron but low in carbohydrate[196]. Fruits are 4 - 10cm long and 3 - 5cm wide[196].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Vitamin C

None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[196, 200]. Prefers a light fertile soil[196]. Dislikes drought[196]. Plants are very prone to wind damage[196]. They fruit best with a temperature range of 16 - 22°c in the growing season[196]. The tree tomato is cultivated for its edible fruit in sub-tropical and tropical zones[46, 61], there are some named varieties[183]. It is not winter hardy in Britain, though it can be pot grown outdoors in the summer and brought into a warmer place for the winter[3]. It requires a minimum winter temperature of 10°c for best fruit production but it is hardy to about -2°c[3, 196]. Trees produce about 20 kg of fruit a year, yields of 15 - 17 tonnes per hectare are achieved in New Zealand[196]. Plants are probably insensitive to day-length[196]. Very fast growing, it starts to fruit within two years from seed[200] and reaches peak production in 3 - 4 years[196]. Trees are, however, short-lived - the life of a commercial plantation is about 8 years[196]. This species does not hybridize easily with other members of the genus[196]. Plants have a shallow spreading root system and resent surface hoeing, they are best given a good mulch[196]. Plants usually ripe their fruit over a period of time, though pruning methods can be used to produce a peak time of fruiting[196]. The leaves have a pungent smell[196]. Plants are subject to attacks by red spider mites.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates within 4 weeks at 15°c[K], within 2 weeks at 25°c[164]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of greenwood in a frame[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
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Cyphomandra hartwegiiHartweg's cyphomandra,CalylophusTree2.0 8-11 FLMHNM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Cav.)Sendtn.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Mon Feb 27 2006

do they take heat? do they really taste like tomatoes?

tetty chaidamsari   Tue Aug 15 2006

where can I found the cyphomandra betacea tree in Indonesia

Muhammad Ali   Sat Sep 1 2007

sir i m n need of literature in the form of publications of tree tomato. my job is to micropropagate tree tomato.

steve jackson   Wed Sep 19 2007

I have recently had to visit a job i was doing east of Canterbury (in the UK close to Sturry) where on the first occasion, whilst driving I noticed something strange growing in the sparce hedgerow. purpleish young and herbacous. I couldnt stop as the road wouldnt allow it but I had to revisit this job 3 occasions more through the growing season and everytime i looked for this plant and noticed lovely purple flowers in late spring, green fruits in summer and recently these have turned orange. The very first time i saw this plant I new it must be related to the nightshade, tomato, Solanum but none of my wild flower books had anything about it. I gave myself a little extra time and parked some 500 yards away in a farm shop and walked to collect some fruit and ultimatley seeds. I can only imagine that its quite an unusual find in Kent. I hope to use the seeds to grow next spring, well worth it as it would look great with other tropical looking plants. interesting to learn that it fruits in its second year so must of survived a mild winter allready.

Irma L.H. Sinaga   Fri Aug 1 2008

that's my research and i love it. tree tomato in Bataknesee is "tiung". It's so delicious so delicious fruit

Gaian   Sun Aug 31 2008

I started a Cyphomandra Betaceae from seed in March indoors in a pot. By June (3 months later) it was covered in flowers which I 'tickled' to pollinate. Fruits are still forming (August), and there are loads of them (at least 100) on a plant that is about 3ft high, very leggy and in a fairly small pot. I popped it outside hoping for a decent summer (UK 2008) and it got badly bent by the high winds this year, but even the shoots that got bent double are still developing the fruits nicely. Whether we ever get enough of a summer to actually ripen them is another matter!

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Subject : Cyphomandra betacea  
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