El nombre “tomatillo” proviene de la palabra náhuatl tomatl. El náhuatl es la lengua de los pueblos aztecas, que comenzaron a cultivar el tomatillo alrededor del año 800 a. E. C. Este cultivo fue una fuente importante de nutrición para los pueblos azteca y maya en Mesoamérica, y sigue siendo un alimento importante para ellos y sus descendientes en la actualidad. El tomatillo fue introducido a Europa a través de la colonización española en el siglo XVI, y llegó a la India en la década de 1950.

El tomatillo es un miembro de la familia de las solanáceas, que también incluye los tomates, las papas, las berenjenas, el tabaco e incluso las petunias. El fruto del tomatillo desarrolla una cáscara parecida al papel que lo protege de insectos y plagas. Cuando la fruta está madura, la cáscara se vuelve más frágil, pasa de verde a marrón y comienza a abrirse.

Creado por Ally Barbaro mediante el Programa de Equidad a través de Historias de Duke Gardens. Ally se graduó en 2024 con una maestría de la Nicholas School of the Environment de Duke University.

Vea más plantas de este proyecto aquí.

The name “tomatillo” originates from the Nahuatl word tomatl. Nahuatl is the language of the Aztec peoples, who began cultivating the tomatillo around 800 BCE. This crop was a major source of nutrition for both the Aztec and Mayan peoples in Mesoamerica, and it continues to be an important food for them and their descendants today. The tomatillo was introduced to Europe through Spanish colonization in the 1500s, and was brought to India in the 1950s.

Tomatillo is a member of the nightshade (Solanaceous) family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, tobacco, and even petunias! The tomatillo fruit grows a paper-like husk that protects it from insects and pests. When the fruit is ripe, the husk becomes more fragile, turns from green to brown, and begins to open.

Created by Ally Barbaro through Duke Gardens’ Equity Through Stories Program. Ally is a 2024 graduate with a master’s degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

See more plants from this project here.

Visitors to Duke Gardens speak many different languages. English and Spanish are two of the most common primary languages in our area today.

Reading a sign is generally an easier way to get information in the garden than scanning a QR code to go to a website for a translation, as you might have noticed! When our signs can only be printed in one language due to size constraints, we vary which language is on the sign and which is on the website so that both English and Spanish speakers have the opportunity to read signs in person.