Sharing a family tree in the cucurbit group alongside cucumbers, squash, and melons, pumpkins develop directly from a flower’s ovary, featuring interior seeds surrounded by fleshy tissue and encased in a tough outer rind.
While their culinary use in savory soups, roasted dishes, and meals leads people to treat them as vegetables in the kitchen, their natural sweetness also allows them to shine in autumn desserts like cakes and pies.
Ultimately proving that both perspectives make sense depending on whether you look at plant science or cooking, this versatile autumn staple remains a fascinating fruit hiding in plain sight.
