Tag: Fleshy fruit

Botanically, a fruit is the mature ovary of a flowering plant that contains seeds, a definition that technically includes foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, and even peanuts. However, the everyday understanding of fruit is based on culinary use, leading to two distinct classification systems. So, do fruits have categories? Absolutely, but the answer depends on whether you're talking to a botanist or a chef.

A single pineapple is actually a composite of hundreds of fused, fleshy berries and floral parts, not a simple fruit. So, is pineapple a pulpy fruit? While its processed puree is called 'pulp,' the fresh fruit's texture is a more complex combination of juicy flesh and a fibrous core.

From a botanical perspective, a fruit is a ripened ovary of a flowering plant that encloses a seed or seeds. The fruit's primary function is to protect the developing seeds and aid in their dispersal, ensuring the plant's next generation. While many people primarily think of sweet, fleshy produce like apples or berries, the definition also includes things like dry pods and nuts.