Nothing says sunshine on a plate quite like a slice of golden, juicy melon. Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew might be the stars you know best—but they’re only the beginning. Yellow melons bring a whole new level of sweetness, crispness, and flavor variety to the table, and they’re as gorgeous as they are refreshing. From bright … Read more
Fruits with gooey seeds have fascinating adaptations for animal dispersal. Birds and other animals that eat the fruit often end up with seeds clinging to their beaks, which are later rubbed off onto branches where they can take root. Seeds with slimy coatings are also well-suited to surviving a trip through the digestive system, passing … Read more
I got invited to an alphabet-themed potluck where everyone had to bring dishes starting with their assigned letter. I drew S and decided on a snack board—but when I started planning the “S-nuts” section, I stalled after Soy nut and Shea nut. Were there actually many more? After a bit of searching, I found out … Read more
Fruits come in all colors, shapes, and flavors, and their names can be just as diverse. Some are short and simple, like “plum” or “pear,” while others stretch out into longer names that reflect their variety, origin, or unique characteristics. For instance, the Black Mission Fig isn’t called “black” because of anything mysterious, but because … Read more
Go through any list of nuts, and you’ll notice some letters have plenty of options, while others barely make an appearance. The letter D falls into that second group. The choices are fewer, but that’s what makes them stand out. Let’s take a look at the nuts that start with D and see what makes … Read more
What’s this Purple Fruit with Spikes? I came across the above question on a social media forum. If you’ve stumbled upon a purple fruit with spikes and are probably asking the same question, you’re not alone. There are countless exotic fruits out there, many of which can look unusual—especially if you’re seeing or tasting them … Read more
You’ve spotted a climbing vine with green fruits and you are probably wondering what it could be. Well, vines come in many forms—some trail along the ground, while others climb upward using tendrils or branches for support. But not all of them bear fruit with shades of green. If you’re looking to identify one that … Read more
Dehiscent fruits are dry fruits that naturally split open when mature to release their seeds. The word dehiscent comes from Latin dehiscere, meaning “to split apart.” They differ from indehiscent fruits (like nuts or grains), which stay closed and keep the seed inside. Common types of dehiscent fruits include: Examples of Dehiscent Fruits Follicles A … Read more
A capsule fruit is one of the most common types of dry fruits you’ll come across. It starts out from a single ovary and, as it matures, its outer walls dry up. Once ripe, the capsule splits open on its own to let the seeds out. That splitting can happen in different ways—sometimes the fruit … Read more
If you’ve ever tossed an old T-shirt into a box of dye to give it a second life, you’re not alone. Many of us have experimented with store-bought dyes to freshen up fabrics, brighten crafts, or even rescue stained clothes. But long before bottles of synthetic colorants lined the shelves, people were turning to nature … Read more