Fruits, with their diverse shapes, sizes, and flavors, are a remarkable part of the plant kingdom. They range from tiny berries to impressively large specimens. The quest to identify the biggest fruit on Earth often leads to surprising discoveries, challenging common perceptions of what a fruit can be.
The World’s Largest Fruit: The Jackfruit
The jackfruit, scientifically known as Artocarpus heterophyllus, holds the distinction of being the largest tree-borne fruit globally. Originating from South and Southeast Asia, individual jackfruits commonly weigh up to 55 kilograms (120 pounds), measure up to 90 centimeters (35 inches) in length, and have a diameter of around 50 centimeters (20 inches).
These fruits grow directly on the trunk and large branches of the jackfruit tree, a phenomenon known as cauliflory. The exterior is typically green to yellowish-brown when ripe, characterized by a bumpy, spiky rind. Inside, the fruit is composed of numerous bulbous, fleshy pods that surround large seeds, all encased within a fibrous, central core.
What Exactly Makes Something a “Fruit”?
Understanding what constitutes a “fruit” botanically differs significantly from its culinary definition. In botany, a fruit is the mature ovary of a flowering plant, which contains the seeds. This definition means that many items commonly considered vegetables are, in fact, fruits.
For instance, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, pumpkins, and squashes all fit the botanical criteria for fruits. The culinary classification, however, often relies on taste, categorizing sweet items as fruits and savory ones as vegetables. This distinction is important when identifying the world’s largest fruit.
Other Notable Giants in the Fruit Kingdom
While the jackfruit holds the record for the largest tree-borne fruit, other botanical fruits achieve immense sizes, particularly those that grow on vines or on the ground. Giant pumpkins, for example, can far exceed the weight of a jackfruit. The heaviest pumpkin ever recorded weighed 1,246.9 kilograms (2,749 pounds) in 2023.
Watermelons can also grow to large sizes. The heaviest watermelon on record reached 159 kilograms (350.5 pounds). The durian, native to Southeast Asia, is known for its distinctive strong odor and thorny exterior. It can grow up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long and 15 centimeters (6 inches) in diameter, weighing between 1 to 3 kilograms (2 to 7 pounds). The pomelo, the largest citrus fruit, can measure 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) in diameter and weigh between 1 to 2 kilograms (2.2 to 4.4 pounds). These examples show the wide range of sizes found within the fruit kingdom.