Do bananas grow on trees?
Bananas don't grow on trees. The banana plant is technically a giant herb, and its "trunk" is made of tightly packed leaf stalks.
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Botany Facts
Botany facts and facts about botanies, from the Random Facts shelf.
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Why do bananas curve?
Bananas curve because they grow upward toward the sunlight after first hanging down, a process called negative geotropism.
Do wild bananas have seeds?
Wild bananas are full of large, hard seeds, unlike the seedless bananas sold in stores.
How many varieties of apples are there?
There are about 7,500 varieties of apples grown around the world.
Why can't you grow the same apple from its seed?
Apple seeds don't grow into the same variety as their parent, so apple growers use grafting to produce trees of the same type.
Is the orange a natural fruit?
The orange is a hybrid of the pomelo and the mandarin.
Can a green orange be ripe?
Oranges grown in the tropics often stay green even when ripe, because they need cool nights to turn orange.
How many grape varieties are there?
There are about 10,000 grape varieties in the world.
Is a watermelon a berry?
Botanically speaking, a watermelon is a type of berry.
Are mangoes related to poison ivy?
Mangoes are related to cashews and poison ivy, and mango skin contains urushiol.
How long can a mango tree live?
Mango trees can live for hundreds of years.
Do mangoes ripen after being picked?
Mangoes keep ripening after they're picked.
Are strawberries berries?
Strawberries aren't true berries.
What plant family do strawberries belong to?
Strawberries belong to the rose family.
How long does a pineapple take to grow?
A pineapple takes about 18 to 24 months to grow.
Is a pineapple one fruit?
A pineapple is a multiple fruit made of many berries fused together.
What is the powdery coating on blueberries?
The powdery coating on blueberries is a natural wax called "bloom."
Is an avocado a berry?
An avocado is a berry with a single seed.
Do avocados ripen on the tree?
Avocados don't ripen on the tree.
Is a lemon a hybrid?
The lemon is a hybrid of the bitter orange and the citron.
How often do lemon trees produce fruit?
Lemon trees can produce fruit year-round.
What plant family do cherries belong to?
Cherries belong to the rose family.
Do cherries ripen after being picked?
Cherries don't ripen after they're picked.
What plants are related to carrots?
Carrots are related to parsley, celery, and dill.
What is Queen Anne's lace?
Queen Anne's lace is the wild ancestor of the carrot.
What plants are in the onion family?
The onion family includes garlic, leeks, and chives.
What vegetables come from the same plant as broccoli?
Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are all varieties of the same plant species, bred from wild cabbage.
What are broccoli florets?
Broccoli florets are flower buds, and they bloom into yellow flowers if left alone.
What plant family does lettuce belong to?
Lettuce belongs to the daisy family.
How many rows does an ear of corn have?
An ear of corn almost always has an even number of rows, often around 16.
What does corn silk do?
Each strand of corn silk connects to a single kernel.
Is corn a grass?
Corn is a type of grass.
Is a cucumber a fruit?
Botanically speaking, a cucumber is a fruit in the gourd family.
What are burpless cucumbers?
Burpless cucumbers have less of the compound that makes some cucumbers bitter.
Are red and green bell peppers different plants?
Green, yellow, orange, and red bell peppers are often the same plant at different stages of ripeness.
Is elephant garlic real garlic?
Elephant garlic is more closely related to leeks than to regular garlic.
Is a pumpkin a fruit?
Botanically speaking, a pumpkin is a fruit, and it's about 90% water.
Do roses have thorns?
Technically, roses don't have thorns. Their sharp points are called prickles because they grow from the outer layer of the stem.
How many rose species are there?
There are about 150 species of wild roses and thousands of cultivated varieties.
Do tulips grow after being cut?
Tulips keep growing after they're cut.
Do sunflowers follow the sun?
Young sunflowers track the sun across the sky, but mature sunflowers stop moving and face east.
Is a sunflower one flower?
A sunflower head is actually made of hundreds or even thousands of tiny individual flowers.
Is a calla lily a true lily?
The calla lily isn't a true lily.
How long does a daylily flower last?
Daylilies aren't true lilies, and each flower lasts only about one day.
How many species of true lilies are there?
There are about 100 species of true lilies.
Are water lilies true lilies?
Water lilies aren't true lilies.
How many species of orchids are there?
Orchids are one of the largest plant families, with about 28,000 species.
How do orchid seeds grow?
Orchid seeds are as fine as dust and usually need help from fungi to sprout.
Is a daisy one flower?
A daisy is actually two kinds of tiny flowers grouped together: the yellow center and the white petals.
How big is the daisy family?
The daisy family is one of the largest plant families, with about 32,000 species.
Is a lotus a water lily?
The lotus isn't a water lily.
What plant family is lavender in?
Lavender is in the mint family.
How many kinds of daffodils are there?
There are about 13,000 cultivated varieties of daffodils.
How long can peonies live?
Peony plants can live for 100 years.