While pumpkin picking in America this past October, Ailsa discovered some interesting facts about pumpkins. As a result we decided to research the many sordid secrets of fruits and vegetables. You’ll be amazed and it also just might help you win trivia night!
Today's confession: as far as botany is concerned, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries actually aren't berries after all. Surprised? I don't blame you - after all, they have berries right there in the name. Fruit is classified according to what the flesh/pulp is like and how the seeds are arranged. Berries are fruits that are fleshy all the way through and come from only one ovary.
Strawberries are a bit strange. The actual fruits are the tiny seeds, which are a type called an achene. The sweet red part that we eat is named an accessory or false fruit. You can think of it as a way to spread the real fruit. Blackberries and raspberries are a type of fruit called an aggregate drupe. You are familiar with many of the drupes - think of anything with a pit, like nectarines and cherries. Blackberries and raspberries are aggregate drupes because they are a cluster of many tiny drupes. Blueberries are false or "epigynous" berries because when the fruit is being formed, it comes from more than just the single ovary. What ARE some true berries, then? -tomatoes peppers, grapes -bananas (another secret - bananas don't grow on trees! Since they have no wood, they are the world's largest herb)
A pumpkin is not a vegetable; it's a fruit! In fact, it's a berry. Pumpkins belong to the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes cucumbers, melons, squash, and gourds. Within this family is the genus Cucurbita which includes gourds, winter and summer squash, and all varieties of pumpkin. There are four species that are considered "pumpkins," but only one is the species most people would recognize as the traditional pumpkin used for carving jack-o-lanterns and cooking.
Pumpkins contain 9 important nutrients– Vitamin C, Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, alpha and beta carotenoids, which help prevent cellular damage as well as luteinfor eye health. Help support healthy kidneys, bladder and prostate. Helps lower cholesterol. Helps with digestive health. Can help prevent osteoporosis. High protein value in the seeds contains essential fatty acid oils.
Now go out and impress your friends by explaining how strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries actually aren't berries after all and how pumpkin is!!