1. SCIENTIFICALLY AND COMMON USE Fruits and Vegetables

2. What is a fruit? Common use tells us that fruits are sweet, juicy and seasonal. Scientific communities define fruits as the ovaries of a plant. Some fruits that are both commonly used as fruits and scientifically named fruits include: apples, watermelons, pears, bananas, oranges and peaches. Some scientifically named fruits that are commonly used as vegetables include: tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, squash.

3. Types of Fruit If it contains seeds, it’s an ovary, and scientists call it a fruit. Strawberries, pomegranates, peas, pumpkins, grapes, edamame.

4. What is a vegetable? Common use tells us that vegetables are green, bland in flavor and starchy. The scientific community defines vegetables as any part of the plant that isn’t an ovary: roots, stems and leaves, primarily.

5. Leaves or Modified Leaves? Leaves are the location of photosynthesis. Some vegetables grow modified leaves that serve other purposes. Modified leaves could be needles (like rosemary) or caps for the growing parts (like asparagus) or spines (like on a cactus).

6. Types of Vegetables Leaf vegetables:  Celery stalks (modified leaves)  Lettuce/collard leaves  Brussels sprouts/cabbage leaves  Rhubarb stalks (modified leaves)  Asparagus caps (modified leaves)

7. Types of Vegetables Root vegetables:  Potatoes  Carrots  Yucca  Taro  Cassava

8. Types of Vegetables Stem vegetables:  Asparagus stalks  Celery stalks  Broccoli and Cauliflower stems (florets are flowers)  Sugar Cane

9. Fruit or Vegetable?