The application is very user-friendly.
The application is extremely easy to use. Beneath the surface of plants lies a complex system of organs that are completely different from those of animals. Even though we commonly refer to the edible parts of certain plants as “hearts” (e.g. artichoke hearts), plants actually have a totally different set of organs to keep them functioning. For example, plants have stems, leaves, and roots, while animals have brains, hearts, lungs, and kidneys. Stems provide the structural foundation of the plant, while leaves are designed specifically to maximize their photosynthetic capabilities. Unlike animals, plants are constantly developing new organs as they grow, thanks to clusters of stem cells called apical and lateral meristems. New York was a major port city, and wholesalers were starting to introduce the US to fruits and vegetables from other countries by shipping them across the ocean. However, there was some controversy over shipping regulations - whenever anyone had imported vegetables, they had to pay a 10% tariff on them, while fruits didn’t have the same tax.
When a man named John Nix received a shipment of tomatoes from the Caribbean and was forced to pay the vegetable tariff on it, he was not happy. He claimed that tomatoes weren’t vegetables - they were fruits, so he should get his money back.
By 1893, Nix’s case had gone all the way to the United States Supreme Court. During the trial, witnesses - not bananas and broccoli, as you’d expect, but humans in the produce industry - debated multiple dictionary definitions of fruit and vegetable. Nobody asked the tomato what they thought of all this.
Ultimately, the judge declared that, despite any botanical similarities to fruits, tomatoes were vegetables because they were “usually served at dinner in, with, or after the soup, fish, or meat, and not, like fruits, generally as desserts.” This remains true to this day in the US - even though tomatoes are botanically fruits, they are legally vegetables. What can I say - people like tomatoes are messy.
Calling all inhabitants of Earth! There’s a new show over on PBS Terra that will make you think - “Where would we be without women?” Women of the Earth explores the resilient work of female land stewards across the country and how they’re leading the world toward effective climate healing. You’ll meet the powerful forces behind the practices that are healing communities from climate change and discover why women’s contributions to our Earth are essential today. Check out the link in our description to watch it now.
Hey, before we go, let’s branch out - what part of the plant is a Brussels sprout? Find the answer in the comments.
Thanks for watching this episode of Crash Course Botany, which was filmed at the Demia Farrizza Witch Studio and made in partnership with PBS Digital Studios and Nature. If you want to help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever, you can join our community on Patreon.