Is a Macadamia nut really a seed, or a nut?
Submitted By
JessiThere are not many true nuts. Nuts are found in the order Fagales, with oaks, acorns, chestnuts, hornbeam, and Hazels producing nuts. The confusion about nuts is that the use of the term by botanists is different than the use of the term for culinary, or food-related applications. Most people incorrectly apply the term nut to any seed with a large oil kernel found within a hard shell, but if the hard shell opens and the seed is not fused to the hard ovary "shell," then it is not a nut. Most of what people call nuts are not true nuts (like macadamia nuts, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, pine nuts, etc.) This is like when people call a tomato a vegetable when it is actually a fruit, specifically a berry. So in short, a macadamia nut is actually a seed.
Macadamia nut image by MorePix
Bibliographic details:
- Article: Is a Macadamia nut really a seed, or a nut?
- Author(s): Dr. Biology
- Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
- Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
- Date published: 12 May, 2017
- Date accessed:
- Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/macadamia-nut-really-seed-or-nut
APA Style
Dr. Biology. (Fri, 05/12/2017 - 12:45). Is a Macadamia nut really a seed, or a nut?. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/macadamia-nut-really-seed-or-nut
Chicago Manual of Style
Dr. Biology. "Is a Macadamia nut really a seed, or a nut?". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 12 May 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/macadamia-nut-really-seed-or-nut
MLA 2017 Style
Dr. Biology. "Is a Macadamia nut really a seed, or a nut?". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 12 May 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/macadamia-nut-really-seed-or-nut
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