You may have already heard that peanuts are not nuts. They are actually legumes and are members of the pea family. But did you know that cashews, almonds, and several other common 鈥渃ulinary nuts鈥� are not true nuts either? To help us understand why this is,聽it is important to know what the definition of a true "nut" is. Botanically, a nut is a dry fruit that consists of a hard shell covering a single seed.聽聽Some examples of true nuts include acorns, chestnuts, and hazelnuts.聽
On the other hand, the fruits of the cashew, almond, and pistachio plants are not true nuts, but are rather classified as 鈥渄rupes.鈥� Drupes are fruits that are fleshy on the outside and contain a shell covering a seed on the inside. What we consume is this seed. The classification of walnuts and pecans is not as clear cut鈥� they have characteristics of both nuts and drupes, but don鈥檛 completely fulfill the criteria for either. Some refer to them as 鈥渘ut-like drupes鈥�, others as 鈥渄rupaceous nuts鈥�. Interestingly, peaches and mangoes are also drupes鈥攅xcept in this case, we eat the fleshy exterior and not the shell and seed found inside it. Confusing, isn鈥檛 it?
Caitlin Bard is completing her Bachelor of Science with a major in聽neuroscience聽at 平特五不中.
