Both. A banana (the yellow thing you peel and eat) is undoubtedly a fruit (containing the seeds of the plant), though since commercially grown banana plants are sterile, the seeds are reduced to little specks. However, the banana plant, though it is called a 'banana-tree' in popular usage, is technically regarded as a herbaceous plant (or 'herb'), not a tree, because the stem does not contain true woody tissue.
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Is a banana a fruit or a herb?
- Thread starter darksidZz
- Start date
So it counts as one of my 'five a day'?
Both. A banana (the yellow thing you peel and eat) is undoubtedly a fruit (containing the seeds of the plant), though since commercially grown banana plants are sterile, the seeds are reduced to little specks. However, the banana plant, though it is called a 'banana-tree' in popular usage, is technically regarded as a herbaceous plant (or 'herb'), not a tree, because the stem does not contain true woody tissue.
Aw, you shoulda made a poll.
Aw, you shoulda made a poll.
There is no poll needed, this answer is correct :shrug:
Fraggle Rocker
Staff member
You're talking about culinary classifications, not botanical. One plant can have more than one kind of edible tissue. The leaves are herbs, but it can also have roots, fruits, tubers, flowers, nuts, beans, seeds, etc.
Obviously not all on the same plant.
Obviously not all on the same plant.
Close,though:Obviously not all on the same plant.
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Amphicarpaea+bracteata
Both. A banana (the yellow thing you peel and eat) is undoubtedly a fruit (containing the seeds of the plant), though since commercially grown banana plants are sterile, the seeds are reduced to little specks. However, the banana plant, though it is called a 'banana-tree' in popular usage, is technically regarded as a herbaceous plant (or 'herb'), not a tree, because the stem does not contain true woody tissue.
I agree and have been pondering about that ever since. Thanks for the info.