Tag: Plant family

Despite their visual resemblance, especially certain flattened varieties like the Fuyu persimmon, these two popular fruits are not closely related at all. While both are technically classified as botanical berries, their lineage places them in entirely separate plant families, a fact often surprising to many home gardeners asking, "Are persimmons closely related to tomatoes?".

Many people are surprised to learn that the popular culinary ingredient garlic belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, which is also known as the amaryllis family. This perennial plant is famous for its pungent flavor and strong aroma, but **which family does garlic belong to** and what are its close relatives? This article delves into the botanical history and modern classification of garlic and its family members.

While many think of the pineapple as a unique, standalone fruit, it belongs to the *Bromeliaceae* family, a diverse group containing over 3,000 species. This tropical plant, scientifically known as *Ananas comosus*, is the most famous edible member of its distinctive clan.

Though many mistake one for the other due to their similar bulbous root structure, a radish is not considered a turnip, despite both belonging to the same broader plant family, Brassicaceae. This common confusion arises because of their shared membership in the mustard family, but they are botanically distinct plants with different characteristics.

The Fabaceae family, commonly known as the legume family, is the third largest family of flowering plants. This vast botanical group is the source of one of our biggest food confusions: Is a legume a nut or a bean?

According to botanists, the Fabaceae family is the third-largest family of flowering plants in the world, with approximately 751 genera and 19,000 known species. It is within this vast, diverse group that edamame, also known as the immature soybean, finds its home.

While it's a common assumption, botanically speaking, chickpeas and lima beans are not directly related, despite both belonging to the larger legume family. Each has a separate lineage, origin, and distinct set of characteristics that make them different in everything from taste to preparation.

Over 70% of the global chickpea production comes from India, yet many people remain unclear about its botanical origins. While it is a common misconception that a chickpea is in the soy family, the relationship is actually more nuanced and based on a shared, broader classification.

Despite being widely consumed as a grain, quinoa is botanically a seed from a flowering plant. So, what food family does quinoa belong to? It is a member of the Amaranthaceae family, a group that includes leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard.

Despite a common misconception, cashews are not members of the nightshade family. This evergreen tree, native to northeastern Brazil, belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, also known as the sumac or cashew family, which also includes mangoes and pistachios.