• trem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    4 hours ago

    Yeah, “vegetables” are not a thing as far as botany is concerned. It is a purely culinary category.

    The distinction between botanical and culinary definitions often causes confusion. Botanically, a fruit is defined by its origin as a mature ovary containing seeds, based on anatomical structure and developmental biology.

    In contrast, culinary definitions are based on flavor, texture, and how a plant part is typically used in meals. Sweet or tart plant products are generally considered culinary fruits, while savory plant parts are classified as culinary vegetables. This explains why many botanical fruits are commonly treated as culinary vegetables. Tomatoes, for example, are botanical fruits because they develop from a flower’s ovary and contain seeds, but their savory flavor leads them to be used as a vegetable in cooking. Cucumbers, peppers, squash, and eggplants are other botanical fruits frequently used as culinary vegetables.

    https://biologyinsights.com/the-botanical-classification-of-fruits/