The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the family Cucurbitaceae that bears cylindrical to spherical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables. [1] · Though many people think of cucumbers as vegetables, the scientific definition indicates that they’re a type of fruit. This distinction is based primarily on the biological function of the... · Cucumbers are botanically classified as fruits, but in cooking, they are treated as vegetables. They originated in Southeast Asia and are now cultivated globally with about 100 varieties. · Learn how cucumbers can be classified as fruit or vegetables depending on the botanical or culinary definition. Find out why cucumbers are part of your 5-a-day and how to enjoy them in various dishes. · The presence of seeds and development from a flower’s ovary unequivocally classify the cucumber as a fruit. Specifically, the cucumber is categorized as a pepo, a type of berry with a hard outer rind. While cucumber meets the botanical definition of a fruit, it is often classified as a vegetable in culinary and cultural contexts. This is because cucumber is often used in savory dishes rather than sweet ones and is not typically eaten as a dessert. · If you’re looking for an answer that puts the plant’s biology over its use in the kitchen, here you have it: Botanically speaking, cucumbers are fruits. But exactly why is a cucumber a fruit?...
