What Makes a Fruit a Fruit?
Fruits may seem like a straightforward topic, but defining what is and isn’t a fruit can be surprisingly complex. After all, what’s the difference between a vegetable and a fruit? Read on to learn more about the science of fruit classification and why certain plants are considered both fruits and vegetables.
What is a Fruit?
A fruit is a botanical structure that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant. A fruit is defined as a mature ovary, typically containing seeds and juice. This definition implies that all parts of the fruit, including the edible exterior, are formed from the ovary of the flower. Therefore, a fruit’s size, shape, texture, sweetness and other characteristics depend on its parent plant’s biology.
Examples of fruits that are eaten around the world include traditional ones like apples, oranges, and bananas, but there are also unusual ones such as raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, and more. Many fruits are also made into juices, jams, and jellies, making them even more ubiquitous.
Vegetables vs. Fruits
The distinction between vegetables and fruits can seem ad-hoc and straightforward fruits are what you eat raw, while vegetables, are what you cook. However, when it comes down to it, this definition is too narrow to capture all the nuances of what makes a fruit a fruit.
For instance, some plants like tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins are normally considered vegetables. But technically, these plants are fruits since they develop from the ovary of a flowering plant and contain seeds. On the other hand, there are also some fruits like cucumbers and zucchinis, that have traditionally been treated as vegetables due to their crunchy texture and lack of sweetness, even though they meet the technical definition of a fruit.
Unusual Fruits
It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of eating the same few kinds of fruits. However, there are many unusual fruits in the world, many of which have yet to be discovered or appreciated by mainstream culture. These can range from rare tropical fruits and exotic melons to plants that have been used for centuries in traditional medicine.
Some unusual fruits include the cupuacu, a tropical fruit native to the Amazon basin; the custard-apple, a sweet and spongy fruit from Southeast Asia; and the carambola, a star-shaped fruit from Southeast Asia.
No matter what kind of fruit you prefer, it is important to remember that fruits come in many shapes, sizes, and flavors. Whether you like exotic fruits or traditional fruit varieties, there are plenty of options out there. So, get out there and experiment – you might just find your new favorite fruity treat!