Apple of Sodom is a spiny plant found near Jericho, a city in the Middle East. It is related to the tomato and bears yellow fruits that look like small apples. Writers in Biblical times called a plant that grew near the Dead Sea the apple of Sodom. They said it looked tempting but turned to bitter ashes in the mouth. Today, some people believe the ancients’ story was a legend and was not about an actual fruit. Others think the writers referred to a plant different from the one bearing the name today. The term apple of Sodom is sometimes used to describe anything that looks pleasing but proves disappointing.
