Ancient Colombian cloud forest tree named after decades of study reveals tomato potato family ties

Scientists link a “new” tree to tomato potato ancestors

Scientists have named Daturodendron absconditum, a newly classified tree genus found in the Colombian Andes cloud forests. After more than two decades of research, the tree is identified as a distant relative of tomatoes and potatoes, with distinct physical traits and an ancient genetic lineage. The discovery underscores how plant taxonomy and conservation remain urgent, even for species hiding in remote habitats.