Why is a tomato classified as a fruit?
Why the Tomato Is a Fruit
- Definition of a Vegetable. According to the University of California at Davis, vegetables are edible leaves, stems, roots, tubers, bulbs and flowers.
- Definition of a Fruit. A fruit contains the seeds of a plant. ...
- Tomato Propagation. Tomatoes grow in U.S. ...
- Congressional Definition. ...
Do you consider a tomato as a fruit or a vegetable?
Tomatoes are fruits that are considered vegetables by nutritionists. Botanically, a fruit is a ripened flower ovary and contains seeds. Tomatoes, plums, zucchinis, and melons are all edible fruits, but things like maple "helicopters" and floating dandelion puffs are fruits too.
Is a tomato considered a vegetable?
Tomatoes are considered a fruit or vegetable depending on context. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, tomatoes are a fruit labeled in grocery stores as a vegetable due to (the taste) and nutritional purposes. Botanically, a tomato is a fruit —a berry, consisting of the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant.
Are Tomatoes considered a citrus fruit or vegetable?
While there can be confusion about whether tomatoes are a fruit or a vegetable, they're definitely not a citrus fruit. Unlike citrus fruits that grow on perennial trees, tomatoes grow on much shorter vine plants. Though technically perennial plants, tomatoes are most often cultivated as annuals.
Is tomato seed a fruit?
The botanical classification: Tomatoes are fruits. Therefore, botanically speaking, a 'fruit' is the seed-bearing product that grows from the ovary of a flowering plant or, in other words, a fruit is the plants' way of spreading its' seeds.
Are tomatoes a fruit?
To a botanist, a fruit is an entity that develops from the fertilized ovary of a flower. This means that tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, corn kernels, and bean and pea pods are all fruits; so are apples, pears, peaches, apricots, melons and mangos.
Why is a tomato considered a fruit?
Tomatoes are botanically defined as fruits because they form from a flower and contain seeds. Still, they're most often utilized like a vegetable in cooking. In fact, the US Supreme Court ruled in 1893 that the tomato should be classified as a vegetable on the basis of its culinary applications.
Why are tomatoes not a fruit?
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica: Tomatoes are fruits that are considered vegetables by nutritionists. Botanically, a fruit is a ripened flower ovary and contains seeds. Tomatoes, plums, zucchinis, and melons are all edible fruits, but things like maple “helicopters” and floating dandelion puffs are fruits too.
Is a potato a fruit?
Potatoes are tubers, which are a sort of root vegetable. They aren't the potato plant's roots themselves, but rather the roots that they grow from. Potatoes are absolutely edible, and they're virtually always used in savoury meals, whether with or without meat. Potatoes, on the other hand, are not fruits.
Is a cucumber a fruit?
The botanical classification: Cucumbers are fruit. A botanical fruit would have at least one seed and grow from the flower of the plant. With this definition in mind, cucumbers are classified as fruit because they contain tiny seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of the cucumber plant.
Is a banana a fruit?
FruitBanana / Fruit or VegetableBananas are both a fruit and not a fruit. While the banana plant is colloquially called a banana tree, it's actually an herb distantly related to ginger, since the plant has a succulent tree stem, instead of a wood one. The yellow thing you peel and eat is, in fact, a fruit because it contains the seeds of the plant.
Is a carrot a fruit?
VegetableCarrot / Fruit or VegetableIs a carrot a fruit? This is an easy one—carrots are definitely vegetables, not fruits. Like potatoes, carrots are a type of root vegetable. The greens of the plant are edible, but carrots are grown for the bright orange (or purple, or white, or yellow) taproot growing underneath.
What veggies are actually fruits?
14 vegetables that are actually fruitsTomatoes. Even though tomatoes are technically a fruit, it doesn't stop people from treating it and most of the other foods on this list as a vegetable. ... Peppers. ... Pumpkins. ... Cucumbers. ... Peas. ... String beans. ... Eggplant. ... Okra.More items...•
Is a cucumber a fruit?
The botanical classification: Cucumbers are fruit. A botanical fruit would have at least one seed and grow from the flower of the plant. With this definition in mind, cucumbers are classified as fruit because they contain tiny seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of the cucumber plant.
Is a pineapple a fruit?
A pineapple is neither a pine nor an apple, but a fruit consisting of many berries that have grown together. This also means that Pineapples are not a single fruit, but a group of berries that have fused together. The technical term for this is a “multiple fruit” or a “collective fruit”.
Is a carrot a fruit?
VegetableCarrot / Fruit or VegetableIs a carrot a fruit? This is an easy one—carrots are definitely vegetables, not fruits. Like potatoes, carrots are a type of root vegetable. The greens of the plant are edible, but carrots are grown for the bright orange (or purple, or white, or yellow) taproot growing underneath.
What are the fruits that are considered vegetables?
In many cultures, vegetables tend to be served as part of the main dish or side, whereas sweet fruits are typically snacks or desserts. Thus, roots, tubers, stems, flower buds, leaves, and certain botanical fruits, including green beans, pumpkins, and of course tomatoes, are all considered vegetables by nutritionists.
What is a fruit?
Botanically, a fruit is a ripened flower ovary and contains seeds. Tomatoes, plums, zucchinis, and melons are all edible fruits, but things like maple “helicopters” and floating dandelion puffs are fruits too.
What does "fruit" mean in nutrition?
Now, nutritionally, the term “fruit” is used to describe sweet and fleshy botanical fruits, and “ vegetable” is used to indicate a wide variety of plant parts that are not so high in fructose.
What is the botanical classification of tomatoes?
The botanical classification: Tomatoes are fruits. A botanist would use the botanical classification, which is based on the plant’s physiological characteristics, like the structure, function and organisation of the plant. 1 Therefore, botanically speaking, a ‘fruit’ is the seed-bearing product that grows from the ovary of a flowering plant or, ...
Why can we classify tomatoes in two different ways?
So why can we classify tomatoes in two different ways, when it confuses us all? These definitions have their own purposes. For example, the botanical classification is useful for a botanist when they want to discover the origins of tomatoes, help them identify different varieties of tomatoes, or understand how to grow and harvest various tomatoes. 1
What is the difference between fruit and vegetables?
1 Culinary speaking, a ‘vegetable’ usually has a tougher texture, tastes blander and often requires cooking in dishes like stews, soups or stir-fries. 1,2 Whereas, a ‘fruit’ has a soft texture, tends to be either sweet or tart and is often enjoyed raw or in desserts or jams. 1,2
What is a vegetable in botany?
A ‘vegetable’ in botanical terms on the other hand, does not have a set definition but is more of a general term encompassing all other edible aspects of the plant; the roots, stems and leaves. 1 So putting our botany caps on, we would classify foods like apples, strawberries and peaches as fruits including tomatoes!
Is a tomato a vegetable?
Tomatoes are part of your 5-a-day. For the 5-a-day recommendations, tomatoes are classified as a vegetable, which is the culinary definition, because that is how most people learn about fruit and vegetables. One adult portion of a tomato is a medium sized tomato or 7 cherry tomatoes, remember to eat a wide variety of fruit ...
What is the correct name for a tomato?
In 1753, Linnaeus placed the tomato in the genus Solanum (alongside the potato) as Solanum lycopersicum. In 1768, Philip Miller moved it to its own genus, naming it Lycopersicon esculentum. This name came into wide use, but was technically in breach of the plant naming rules because Linnaeus's species name lycopersicum still had priority. Although the name Lycopersicum lycopersicum was suggested by Karsten (1888), this is not used because it violates the International Code of Nomenclature barring the use of tautonyms in botanical nomenclature. The corrected name Lycopersicon lycopersicum (Nicolson 1974) was technically valid, since Miller's genus name and Linnaeus's species name differ in exact spelling, but since Lycopersicon esculentum has become so well known, it was officially listed as a nomen conservandum in 1983, and would be the correct name for the tomato in classifications which do not place the tomato in the genus Solanum .
How do you pronounce tomato?
The usual pronunciations of tomato are / təˈmeɪtoʊ / (usual in American English) and / təˈmɑːtoʊ / (usual in British English ). The word's dual pronunciations were immortalized in Ira and George Gershwin 's 1937 song " Let's Call the Whole Thing Off " ("You like / pəˈteɪtoʊ / and I like / pəˈtɑːtoʊ / / You like / təˈmeɪtoʊ / and I like / təˈmɑːtoʊ / ") and have become a symbol for nitpicking pronunciation disputes. In this capacity, it has even become an American and British slang term: saying " / təˈmeɪtoʊ təˈmɑːtoʊ / " when presented with two choices can mean "What's the difference?" or "It's all the same to me".
What is the oldest tomato?
Solanum lycopersicum var. lycopersicum: the oldest surviving tomato fruit and leaves. Page from the En Tibi Herbarium, 1558. Naturalis Leiden.
Where did the tomato originate?
The species originated in western South America and Central America. The Nahuatl (the language used by the Aztecs) word tomatl gave rise to the Spanish word tomate, from which the English word tomato derived.
How big are tomato flowers?
The flowers are 1–2 cm ( 1⁄2 – 3⁄4 in) across, yellow, with five pointed lobes on the corolla; they are borne in a cyme of three to 12 together. Although in culinary terms, tomato is regarded as a vegetable, its fruit is classified botanically as a berry.
How tall do tomato plants grow?
Tomato plants typically grow to 1–3 meters (3–10 ft) in height. They are vines that have a weak stem that sprawls and typically needs support. Indeterminate tomato plants are perennials in their native habitat, but are cultivated as annuals.
Why are tomatoes red?
The poor taste and lack of sugar in modern garden and commercial tomato varieties resulted from breeding tomatoes to ripen uniformly red. This change occurred after discovery of a mutant "u" phenotype in the mid 20th century that ripened "u"niformly. This was widely cross-bred to produce red fruit without the typical green ring around the stem on uncross-bred varieties. Prior to general introduction of this trait, most tomatoes produced more sugar during ripening, and were sweeter and more flavorful.
Why are tomatoes considered fruit?
There's a business reason for calling tomatoes fruits, too. In 1893, Congress passed a tariff act putting a 10 percent tax on whole vegetables. So, to avoid paying the fee, merchants claimed that tomatoes are fruit.
Why are tomatoes fruit?
The actual tomato plant is a seed plant that grows the red, edible tomatoes people know and love. Although tomatoes aren't known for being as sweet as other fruit (like peaches), they're not as bitter as some vegetables (looking at you, Brussels sprouts). With this definition in mind, everything from peppers to cucumbers are also fruit, while carrots and potatoes are not. It's an interesting fact that potatoes are actually distant relatives of the tomato. However, as root vegetables, they don't fit the "fruit of the vine" definition that makes tomatoes a fruit.
What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?
According to Merriam-Webster, fruits are "the usually edible reproductive body of a seed plant, especially: one having a sweet pulp."
Why are tomatoes vegetables?
While tomatoes are scientifically fruits, they're legally classed as vegetables. From the definitions previously mentioned, it might seem like tomatoes are unequivocally not vegetables. So, is tomato a fruit then? Not exactly.
Is tomato bitter?
Although tomatoes aren't known for being as sweet as other fruit, they're not as bitter as some vegetables. With this definition in mind, everything from peppers to cucumbers are also fruit, while carrots and potatoes are not.
Do tomatoes make you healthier?
In fact, cooking tomatoes actually make them even healthier, which is just one of 20 food facts that could change the way you eat. Most Comfortable Shoes: "These Shoes Are Like Walking On Clouds". Ad Microsoft. Slide 1 of 9: Now more than ever, we rely on our phones for everything.
Is broccoli a vegetable?
So things like beets, spinach, and broccoli are all vegetables. You might not love all fruits and vegetables, but you should eat them anyway because these 8 things happen to your body when you don't eat enough of them. Even with these definitions, some people still claim tomatoes are vegetables—and they're not wrong.
What is a fruit?
Botanically speaking, a fruit is a seed-bearing structure that is formed from the ovary of angiosperms (flowering plants) after pollination. This criterion applies to the tomato among other fruits.
How many calories are in a tomato?
A 100g medium-sized tomato contains 18 calories. 95% water and 0.9grams of protein.
What are Vegetables?
Vegetables can be broadly defined as edible plants and their parts apart from the fruits and seeds, and particularly those used as food by humans and animals.
What is the fleshy ovary of a tomato?
The fleshy or dry ovary of flowering plants that encloses the seed or seeds is known as a fruit. However, the popular impression and perceived definition of fruit only include ripened ovaries that are sweet and succulent or pulpy. This perception further enhances the narrative that tomatoes are more like vegetables than fruit. This consideration is bolstered by the fact that it is derived from small plant vegetation, not trees.
How are multiple fruits formed?
Multiple fruits collective, false, or composite fruits are formed by the inflorescence (cluster of several) of flowers with each making up individual fruitlets that fuse into a single mass or one large fruit at maturity.
How many categories are there in fruit?
Fruits are broadly classified into three types or categories and one less significant one based on the number of ovaries and flowers that were involved in their formation. They are further sub-divided based on various other criteria.
Is tomato a vegetable?
According to one of the widely accepted definitions of a vegetable, most of the parts of a plant are considered vegetables except for the fruit and the seeds. This definition would clearly exclude tomatoes from the group of vegetables.
Overview
Botany
Tomato plants are vines, initially decumbent, typically growing 180 cm (6 ft) or more above the ground if supported, although erect bush varieties have been bred, generally 100 cm (3 ft 3 in) tall or shorter. Indeterminate types are "tender" perennials, dying annually in temperate climates (they are originally native to tropical highlands), although they can live up to three years in a greenhouse in …
Names
The word tomato comes from the Spanish tomate, which in turn comes from the Nahuatl word tomatl [ˈtomat͡ɬ] pronunciation (help·info), meaning 'swelling fruit'; also 'fat water' or 'fat thing'. The native Mexican tomatillo is tomate. When Aztecs started to cultivate the fruit to be larger, sweeter and red, they called the new variety xitomatl (or jitomates) (pronounced [ʃiːˈtomatɬ]), ('plump with navel' or 'f…
History
The wild ancestor of the tomato, Solanum pimpinellifolium, is native to western South America. These wild versions were the size of peas. The first evidence of domestication points to the Aztecs and other peoples in Mesoamerica, who used the fruit fresh and in their cooking. The Spanish first introduced tomatoes to Europe, where they became used in Spanish food. In France, Italy and norther…
Cultivation
The tomato is grown worldwide for its edible fruits, with thousands of cultivars. A fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 5–10–10 is often sold as tomato fertilizer or vegetable fertilizer, although manure and compost are also used. On average there are 150,000 seeds in a pound of tomato seeds.
Tomato cultivars vary widely in their resistance to disease. Modern hybrids foc…
Consumption
Though it is botanically a berry, a subset of fruit, the tomato is a vegetable for culinary purposes because of its savoury flavour (see above).
Although tomatoes originated in the Americas, they have become extensively used in Mediterranean cuisine. Ripe tomatoes contain significant umami flavor and they are a key ingredient in pizza, and are commonly used in pasta sauces. …
Nutrition
A tomato is 95% water, contains 4% carbohydrates and less than 1% each of fat and protein (table). 100 g of raw tomatoes supply 18 kilocalories and are a moderate source of vitamin C (17% of the Daily Value), but otherwise have no significant nutrient content (table).
There is no conclusive evidence to indicate that the lycopene in tomatoes or in supplements affects the onset of cardiovascular diseases or cancer.
Host plant
The Potato Tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) is an oligophagous insect that prefers to feed on plants of the family Solanaceae such as tomato plants. Female P. operculella use the leaves to lay their eggs and the hatched larvae will eat away at the mesophyll of the leaf.