From a botanical perspective, cherries are not considered berries. While many small, round, fleshy fruits are commonly called berries, scientific classification relies on specific structural characteristics. This distinction highlights the difference between everyday language and the precise terminology used in the study of plants.
Botanical Definition of a Berry
A true berry is a simple fleshy fruit that develops from a single flower with one ovary. The entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp, which is the fruit wall. True berries typically contain multiple seeds embedded within their fleshy interior. Examples of fruits that are botanically true berries include grapes, tomatoes, bananas, eggplants, and chili peppers.
Botanical Classification of Cherries
Cherries are botanically classified as “drupes,” also known as stone fruits. A drupe is a fleshy fruit characterized by an outer skin (exocarp), a fleshy middle layer (mesocarp), and a hard, stony inner layer (endocarp) that encloses a single seed. This hard pit, formed from the flower’s ovary wall, is a defining feature that distinguishes drupes from berries. Other common examples of drupes include peaches, plums, olives, mangoes, and even almonds and coconuts. Cherries belong to the genus Prunus, which encompasses many fruits with this stone-like structure.
Why Common Usage Differs from Botany
The discrepancy between the botanical definition and common usage of “berry” arises because everyday language often categorizes fruits based on their general appearance, taste, and size rather than their scientific structure. In culinary terms, a “berry” typically refers to any small, juicy, rounded, and often sweet fruit without a large pit, regardless of its botanical origin. Many fruits commonly called berries do not meet botanical criteria. The informal use of the term has evolved over time, leading to common misconceptions about fruit classification.
Other Surprisingly Classified Fruits
Many other common fruits are also classified differently in botany than in everyday language. Strawberries, for instance, are not true berries; they are aggregate accessory fruits, with their seeds on the outside. Raspberries and blackberries are also aggregate fruits, composed of many small, individual drupelets. Conversely, some fruits commonly considered vegetables are botanically berries, such as cucumbers, pumpkins, and watermelons. These examples illustrate the precise and often counterintuitive nature of botanical fruit classification.