Fruits and berries are quite popular foods that many people love. They bring great benefits to the body and help saturate it with valuable substances. At the same time, not everyone knows what exactly distinguishes a berry from a fruit. In fact, the difference affects a number of aspects - size, taste, composition. The effect of fruits on health also differs.
What fruits are berries?
Berries are fruits that have a juicy and fleshy texture and contain many seeds. In science, this term refers to a variety of multi-seeded fruit.That is why bananas, watermelons, kiwis and even tomatoes belong to this group.
At the same time, in botany, strawberries and strawberries are considered fake or false berries. This is due to the fact that the receptacle, and not just the ovary, also participates in their formation. That is why many fruits, which are commonly considered fruits, are scientifically classified as berries. Lemon and orange are worth highlighting as prominent representatives of this group. They are essentially berries. Botany also includes sweet peppers, avocados, and grapes in this group.
However, in everyday life this concept is used in relation to small fruits. Their main differences include their rounded shape, rich hue and sweet and sour taste.
Types of botanical berries
Botanically speaking, berries are simple fruits that contain many seeds inside. In addition, there is pulp inside. They are produced from a single ovary. Among the botanical varieties, it is necessary to highlight avocado, barberry, and blueberry. They also include gooseberries and currants.
Botanical species include the following categories:
- False - they are formed not from ovaries, but from other fragments. This category includes strawberries and strawberries, which are formed from the receptacle.
- Real fruits are typical fruits that have a thick skin. There are always seeds inside.
- Complex - in this case, a large berry consists of many small ones. This group includes blackberries, mulberries, and raspberries.
Species not botanical
Many fruits that are considered berries are not scientifically classified as berries. The following crops fall into this group:
- Stone fruits are fleshy fruits that have a hard layer surrounding the seed. It is usually formed from one seed ovary. This category includes bird cherry and waxweed.
- Pomaceae are representatives of the Rosaceae family. Fruits include apples and pears. Their distinctive feature is the structure that separates the seeds from the ovary. At the same time, individual pome crops are called berries - in particular, hawthorn and shadberry.
- Complex - they include several colors that connect to each other or are tightly spaced. An example is the mulberry. It develops from a cluster of microscopic flowers that shrink when forming a berry.
- Composite - include seeds of various ovaries of a single flower. Such plants include raspberries and blackberries.
What fruits are classified as fruits?
The fruit is the juicy edible fruit of the plant. There was no such word in the Old Russian language. It came into use only in 1705 and is a borrowing from Latin. Until then, all fruits were called vegetables.
In fact, “fruit” is not a botanical term, but a common one among people. In colloquial speech, the edible parts of crops are divided into fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In the everyday context, the berry is also a juicy fruit. From this point of view, the fruit differs mainly in size. You cannot pick it up with two fingers and put it whole in your mouth.
What do they have in common?
It is not easy to distinguish a fruit from a berry. This is due to the fact that they have quite a lot of similarities. Such products have a sweet or sweet-sour taste. In more rare cases, there is a slight bitterness.
Another important similar feature is the presence of a large amount of vitamins in the composition. Both fruits and berries have a positive effect on the body. They contain vitamins, amino acids and microelements.
Main differences
An important difference between the products under consideration lies in the peculiarities of the use of terms. The name “fruit” is used mainly to refer to the fruits of garden plants. In this case, the berries may differ in cultural origin or develop in the natural environment. Thus, the common expression “wild berries” is perceived as something quite normal. If you use the phrase “forest fruits”, it will cause surprise.
Berries are also edible and inedible. As a striking example that belongs to the second category, it is worth citing wolf berries. Fruits, by definition, are not poisonous.
In everyday life, the categories in question differ only in size. In addition, fruits are usually called the fruits of garden crops, while berries often grow in the wild. The fruit is characterized by the presence of a large seed inside, and the berry pulp usually contains many seeds.
Which fruits are healthier?
It is difficult to say which category of fruits is healthy. All of them contain many valuable vitamins and microelements. Berries are considered lower in calories and contain a lot of fiber. Therefore, they should be consumed by overweight people. At the same time, fruits also include many valuable elements, but the choice of specific varieties should be approached individually.
Experts advise focusing on your health status. For example, in the case of gastritis with high acidity, it is not recommended to eat sour fruits. If you are obese or have diabetes, you should give up sweets. In addition, excess fructose in the diet provokes an increase in the production of uric acid and increases the likelihood of kidney stones.
Fruits and berries are fairly common foods that help saturate the body with valuable substances. It is important to distinguish these categories.
