A banana is actually classed as a herb.?

Question

Does anyone know why?

Answer 1

First, understand I'm no botanist or anything...   :)

I think the confusion is that we first need to remember that a plant needs a botanical classification first. In this instance, my book describes Musa as "rhizomatous or suckering herbs." Plants are classified into herbs, perennials, shrubs, trees, vines, ferns, mosses (and probably a few more I cannot recall at the moment). There is no "fruit" group.

So, let's follow these two plants..

Citrus. Classified as "evergreen trees or shrubs."

Citrus x limon (Lemon) Then further classified as a small tree. There is no mention of fruit or vegetable.

Rubus. Classified as "scrambling, trailing or prostrate shrubs."

Rubus occidentalis (Black raspberry, blackcap, thimbleberry) Then further classified as deciduous shrubs. Again, no mention of fruit or vegetable.

So as I understand it, they first get their scientific name. Then sorted into annuals, herbs, perennials, etc. From there they can be narrowed down further. So, it's both an herb and considered a fruit-the edible part of the plant.

http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/Pla...

http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/Ethno...

Answer 2

Who classes it as a herb? It's a fruit.

Answer 3

Both. A banana (the yellow thing you peel and eat) is undoubtedly a fruit (containing the seeds of the plant. though since   commercially grown banana plants are sterile, the seeds are reduced to little specks. However, the banana plant, though it is called a 'banana-tree' in popular usage, is technically regarded as a herbaceous plant (or 'herb'), not a tree, because the stem does not contain true woody tissue.

Answer 4

no it isn't it's a fruit. Herbs don't grow on trees

Answer 5

Wiki thinks its a fruit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana

See that link.

It has seeds in it so its a fruit.

Answer 6

That's bizarre, I've never had a banana referred to as a herb.  Bizarre.....

Answer 7

No it isn't, it's a fruit.  It has seeds inside, that's what makes it a fruit. Unlike a strawberry, which has its seeds on the outside so actually isn't a fruit at all . . .

Answer 8

Yes.

An herb is a flowering plant with an above ground stem that doesn't become woody and persistent.

Answer 9

Something to do with it not being a truly woody plant from what i remember from college days.  

Been years since i done botany but found this: " Recent comparative studies of plastid and nuclear gene sequences coupled with the application of cladistics is providing a new, somewhat controversial, ordinal classification of flowering plants (Bremer et al 1998).     The Zingiberales have been only slightly affected by such studies (see Kress & Hahn 1997 and Genera Zingiberarum)." from here: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/In...

There is a lot more on the taxonomy of the banana family there too if you should be interested.

Answer 10

it atulally does have seed

next time you eat a banana look at the black bits in the middle those are the seeds

Answer 11

Cos it has no seeds/pips.

All other fruit do.

Answer 12

Really - how strange! No idea why!