SCIENTIFICALLY AND COMMON USE

Fruits and Vegetables

What is a fruit?

Common use tells us that fruits are sweet, juicy and seasonal.

Scientific communities define fruits as the ovaries of a plant.

Some fruits that are both commonly used as fruits and scientifically named fruits include: apples, watermelons, pears, bananas, oranges and peaches.

Some scientifically named fruits that are commonly used as vegetables include: tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, squash.

Types of Fruit

If it contains seeds, it’s an ovary, and scientists call it a fruit.

Strawberries, pomegranates, peas, pumpkins, grapes, edamame.

What is a vegetable?

Common use tells us that vegetables are green, bland in flavor and starchy.

The scientific community defines vegetables as any part of the plant that isn’t an ovary: roots, stems and leaves, primarily.

Leaves or Modified Leaves?

Leaves are the location of photosynthesis. Some vegetables grow modified leaves that serve other purposes.

Modified leaves could be needles (like rosemary) or caps for the growing parts (like asparagus) or spines (like on a cactus).

Types of Vegetables

Leaf vegetables: Celery stalks (modified leaves) Lettuce/collard leaves Brussels sprouts/cabbage leaves Rhubarb stalks (modified leaves) Asparagus caps (modified leaves)

Types of Vegetables

Root vegetables: Potatoes Carrots Yucca Taro Cassava

Types of Vegetables

Stem vegetables: Asparagus stalks Celery stalks Broccoli and Cauliflower stems (florets are flowers) Sugar Cane

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Vegetable

Fruit or Vegetable?

Vegetable

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit or Vegetable?

Vegetable

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Vegetable

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit

Fruit or Vegetable?

Vegetable