Tag: Pome

Did you know that over 7,500 varieties of apples exist, including many that are naturally small? The most common answer for what is a small apple like fruit called is the crabapple, a tart relative of the standard apple that thrives in many temperate regions.

Botanically speaking, the fruit that develops from a single ovary of a single flower is defined as a simple fruit. But is an apple a simple or complex fruit? The answer is more nuanced than you might think, involving layers of botanical definitions that classify it as a unique type of simple fruit.

While most people casually refer to the main edible part of an apple as simply the “flesh” or “pulp,” the correct botanical term is mesocarp. This term, however, is not used in everyday conversation, leading to common confusion over what is the meat of an apple called.

With over 7,500 known cultivars cultivated globally, the apple (*Malus domestica*) is one of the world's most popular fruits. While commonly enjoyed as a sweet snack, the botanical answer to what type of fruit is an apple is far more specific: it is a pome, a special category of fleshy fruits from the Rosaceae family.

While both are delicious fruits, the short and definitive answer is no, an apple is not a citrus fruit. The distinction lies in their botanical origins, nutritional composition, and physical characteristics, despite both being staples in healthy diets.

According to botanical definitions, fruits like bananas and pumpkins are true berries, while many common "berries" like strawberries are not. This surprising fact sets the stage for understanding why an apple is actually not a berry, but a specific type of fruit called a pome.

Botanically, many fruits we call 'berries' are not true berries, while some unexpected fruits are. This confusion extends to the common apple, prompting many to ask: is apple a berry or drupe? The answer, surprisingly, is neither, but rather a different kind of fruit altogether.

Globally, the apple is the most widely consumed fruit. This beloved item can be found in a variety of tastes and forms, from the sweet crunch of a Gala to the tartness of a Granny Smith. However, when asking what category of food is an apple, the answer isn't as simple as it seems, with classifications varying between culinary and botanical contexts.