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Which parts of angiosperms are eaten as vegetables?
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Angiosperm
Snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) in bloom.
Angiosperms, or flowering plants, are highly diverse, and humans consume various parts of these plants as vegetables. These edible portions are typically categorized by the specific plant structure from which they are derived:12
- Flowers and Buds: These include artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower, capers, and squash blossoms.312
- Leaves and Stems: Common examples are lettuce, spinach, cabbage, celery, asparagus, and kale.12
- Roots, Bulbs, and Tubers: These underground storage structures include potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, beets, and sweet potatoes.12
- Fruits and Seeds: Many plants popularly classified as vegetables are botanically fruits because they develop from the plant's reproductive structures. These include tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, okra, beans, and peas.12
Because angiosperms are the most diverse group of plants, they provide a vast array of nutritional content through these different anatomical parts.42