Why is squash botanically classified as a fruit rather than a vegetable?
Answer
Because it originates from a flower and contains seeds.
The classification of squash as a fruit is based strictly on botanical criteria, not culinary use. Botanically, a fruit develops from the flower of a plant and encloses the seeds necessary for reproduction. The text confirms that squash fits this definition because it originates from a flower and contains seeds, even though it is generally treated culinarily as a vegetable due to its savory profile and nutritional makeup.
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