Tag: Fruit family

While most people casually refer to any edible, hard-shelled kernel as a 'nut,' the botanical truth is far more complex, revealing that many popular varieties like almonds and walnuts are not nuts at all. This common culinary classification masks a fascinating and diverse reality from the world of plant science.

Native to southern China for over 2,000 years, the lychee is a highly prized fruit in Asian cultures. This delicious fruit belongs to a fascinating botanical lineage, but many people are unsure what family is lychee in. The answer lies in the colorful and diverse Sapindaceae family, more commonly known as the soapberry family.

Despite both being popular tropical fruits, a lychee is not in the coconut family; they belong to two completely different plant families. The lychee is a member of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), while the coconut is part of the palm family (Arecaceae).

While it may be loaded with vitamin C, sometimes even more than an orange, guava is not considered a citrus fruit. This common misconception is understandable given their shared nutrient profile, but their botanical classifications reveal a distinct difference that sets them apart.