Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world. They are sweet, nutritious and easy to peel. But did you know that bananas are actually berries? Yes, you read that right. Bananas are berries, according to botany, the science of plants. But how can that be? Let’s find out.
What Is a Berry?
A berry is a type of fruit that develops from a single ovary of a flower. An ovary is the part of the flower that contains the seeds. A berry also has three fleshy layers: the skin (exocarp), the flesh (mesocarp) and the inner part that holds the seeds (endocarp). Some examples of berries are grapes, tomatoes, eggplants and oranges.
Why Are Bananas Berries?
Bananas meet all the criteria of a berry. They develop from a single ovary of a flower that has one or more seeds. They also have three fleshy layers: the peel (exocarp), the soft and sweet middle (mesocarp) and the tiny black seeds (endocarp) that you may not notice. Therefore, bananas are botanically berries.
Why Are Strawberries and Raspberries Not Berries?
You may be wondering why some fruits that have “berry” in their name are not actually berries. For example, strawberries and raspberries are not berries, but aggregate fruits. Aggregate fruits develop from a flower that has more than one ovary. Each ovary produces a small fruit that is attached to the others. For instance, strawberries have many yellow seeds on their surface, which are actually individual fruits called achenes. Raspberries have many small units called drupes, which each contain a seed and a fleshy part.
Conclusion
Bananas are berries, but strawberries and raspberries are not. This may sound surprising, but it makes sense if you look at how fruits are classified by botany. Next time you eat a banana, remember that you are eating a berry!
