On 15 May 2004, ASmith1946 wrote:

> >> Actually, so did everyone else. The two plants are remotely related
> >> botanically. Most early European herbals listed tomatoes as a variety of
> >
> >Not so remote a connection--they belong to the same genus (Solanum).
> >
>
> Not quite. Eggplants and tomatoes are members of the Solanaceae family.
> Lycopersicon (which includes only tomatoes) is a separate genus within the
> family. This been debated for years and, alas, not all botanists agree (can you
> imagine that?). Many botany books have it wrong.
>
> See Charles Rick, "Biosystematic Studies in Lycopersicon and Closely Related
> Species of Solanum," in J. G. Hawkes, R. N. Lester, and A. D. Skelding, eds.,
> The Biology and Taxonomy of the Solanaceae (London: Academic Press, 1979),
> 667-77, and the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.

Well, more recently Lycopersicon has been melded into Solanum. I could get
you references, but looking up L Bohs, R Olmstead or D Spooner should
help.

-Geeta