Now that we have a definite answer for the age old, Supreme Court-worthy debate about the botanical and legal status of tomatoes, it was only a matter of time until another fruit's classification was questioned.
This time around the focus has shifted towards bananas.
There's no doubt that a banana is a fruit. Its characteristics fit into the botanist definition that a fruit is "any ovary and its accessory parts that has developed and matured. It also usually contains seeds."
The yellow-fleshed fruit is categorized as a berry because of its layered structure, the ability to grow from a flower with just one ovary and multiple seed count (yes, your beloved banana has seeds, you don't spot them because commercially-grown varieties are sterile hence the seeds don't fully develop).
But, despite these scientific definitions, did you know that bananas are also considered herbs? In fact, they're the world's largest herb! Bet you didn't see that coming.
It's kind of hard to wrap your mind around that but there's a very logical explanation behind it.
The banana plant, popularly known as a 'banana tree' is actually an herbaceous plant. The plant grows from an underground root system called a corm and over time develops thick leaf stalks that wrap around each other to form a trunk. This central stem does not contain any woody tissue which is why it cannot be categorized as a tree.
So taking all of these facts into account, it can be said that a banana is both a fruit and an herb.
Mind = blown!
Did this information surprise you? Let us know in the comments!