Tomatoes and Lettuce

Paper Summary:

This paper provides historical information on the tomato and the lettuce plant. The paper explains from where it is believed that both plants originated, looks at how the plants spread to other parts of the world, describes the additional varieties of these plants that evolved over time, and discusses how they are most often used in cooking.

From the Paper:

"The tomato's actual origin is thought to be Peru in South America where it grew wild (like a weed) several thousands of years before making its way north to Central America. Presently, eight species still grow wild in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Some believe Spanish explorer Cortez may have been the first to transfer the small yellow tomato to Europe after he captured the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan in 1521, now Mexico City. Yet others believe Christopher Columbus, also of Spain, discovered the tomato earlier in 1493. The earliest discussion of the tomato in European literature appeared in an herbal written in 1544 by Pietro Andrea Mattioli, an Italian physician and botanist, who named it pomi d'oro, golden apple. However, Mattioli's review was a bit of bad press for the tomato as he and other distinguished authors continued to review the tomato as unhealthy or inedible because of its link to other members of the Solanaceae, notably deadly nightshade (Atropus belladonna) as it resembled the leaves of the tomato plant."

More papers on Tomatoes and Lettuce:

• Essay # 4548 : "Tomato Research and Information"
• Essay # 142434 : "Internal And External Design Validity Clinical Significance"
• Analytical Essay # 118187 : "I Want A Big Mac!"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: