The –est Paleontology

Tomatillo fossil is oldest nightshade plant

Pocketed berry is millions of years older than earlier estimates

tomatillo fossil

TINY TOMATILLO A 52-million-year-old fossil of a tomatillo includes the plant’s papery outer sheath, and remnants of the blackened berry, which has since turned to coal.

Peter Wilf, Penn State

By Meghan Rosen

- More than 2 years ago

Two tiny tomatillo fossils have kicked the origin of nightshade plants back to the age of dinosaurs.