How are berries different from fruits?

Each of us knows from childhood that the best sweets and the most healthy desserts are fresh fruits and berries. Fruits plucked directly from the garden are considered especially vitamin. We love to eat them not only fresh, but also make jams from them, add them to cereals and yogurts, and also make other dishes.

What is the difference between these two groups? How is a berry different from a fruit? How to distinguish one from the other on your own at home, without resorting to the help of a botany guide? You will find answers to these questions in our material.

In the modern world, the variety of such fruits is simply amazing, and supermarket shelves are literally full of not only domestic, but also exotic fruits and berries.

First, let's deal with scientific terminology.

Generally speaking, the word "fruit" came to Russian from the Latin language and in a literal direct translation it means "fruit". In scientific circles, in particular among botanists, fruits are called that way.

If we explain scientific terms in simple terms, it turns out that a fruit is the fruit of a tree or plant that contains the seeds necessary for subsequent distribution.

We figured out the fruits, now let's talk about berries.

A berry is a type of fruit that has a fleshy texture and contains many seeds inside.Among scientists, the definition of a berry sounds like "a kind of multi-seeded fruit."

It turns out that the main characteristic and the main difference between a berry and a fruit is the presence of seeds inside the fruit.

If, from a scientific point of view, all this has become more or less clear, from a practical point of view, the question is still not completely clear. How to distinguish between fruit and berries at home? In order to understand this issue, it is necessary to consider some important characteristics.

So, the primary role is played by the size and volume of the fetus. It is believed that a berry can be freely clasped with two fingers of one hand, and in order to clasp a fruit, it is necessary to bring the whole brush to work, or even both.

It is also worth noting the fact that the bulk of fruits are cultural (or garden) fruits, they are specially cultivated and bred by people in gardens and kitchen gardens, intended for further consumption. At the same time, most types of berries can be wild - for example, everyone knows the phrase "forest berries".

Another difference is that often the berries can be poisonous (e.g. wolfberries). That is why you should not eat or even taste fruits that are unfamiliar to you.

At the same time, fruits cannot be poisonous. This group includes exclusively edible and edible fruits.

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the bulk of fruits and berries have a sweet taste (bitter or sour notes may be present), however, do not forget about exceptions. For example, lemon is sour, while avocado has an almost neutral taste. However, these fruits should not be confused with vegetables.

Thus, knowing these features and facts, you can independently figure out whether you eat a fruit or a berry. At the same time, one should also take into account the fact that there are a large number of botanical nuances and scientific details that only a professional researcher can deal with.

You can learn more about the differences between berries and fruits by watching the following video.

Our nature is quite amazing and multifaceted. To penetrate deeper into her secret depths, you should familiarize yourself with interesting information about fruits and berries.

• It is believed by the people that it is quite simple to distinguish between fruit and berries. You need to know how and where this fruit grows. So, it is customary to think that fruits grow on trees, and small shrubs are the domain of berries. This is not entirely true. Indeed, according to this principle, cherries can be attributed to fruits, which is not true. This statement is most likely a folklore fiction, and not a scientifically substantiated fact.
• Botanical science calls strawberries and strawberries "false berries". The thing is that in the formation and development of these fruits, not the last value (except for the ovary) is the so-called receptacle. The fruits of these plants themselves can be called overgrown receptacles or even nuts.
• Botanists refer to fruits such as orange and lemon as berries, but avocado, by the way, is a fruit.
• In the CIS countries, among ordinary people, everyone's favorite tomato is considered a vegetable, domestic botanists call this fruit a berry, and scientists working in the United States of America call a tomato a fruit (this provision is enshrined at the state level). This is such a versatile fruit.
• Contrary to popular belief, melon and watermelon are berries, not fruits, although there are other views on this issue.

Thus, we were able to make sure that everything in botanical science is not as simple as it seems at first glance. So, many fruits that we consider fruits are considered berries (and vice versa).

In everyday life, the ability to classify fruits into these groups will help you demonstrate your erudition and a broad outlook. In addition, this knowledge will be useful in order to be able to explain the botanical tricks of plants to your child.