Is Rice A Fruit Even ? It's Totally Okay To Be Confused, And Here's Why

 What ? Is it really true that rice is a fruit ? The rice which was used to held together The Great Wall Of China is actually a fruit.

 We have learned that rice is a grain. But, actually it's a fruit. When we think of a fruit, the first thing that comes into our mind is that it has a seed.

Rice is the most common staple food in our world. It is widely used by people around the world, particularly in Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa. It has been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years.

Rice is a good source of energy, helps in controlling hypertension, promotes your cardiovascular system and prevents chronic constipation. It is rich in Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins and Minerals. They are gluten free, easy to digest and helps you to a healthy weight gain.

Rice is grown in every part of the World except Antartica. It is a monocot and grown annually. And produces the 20 % of the world's dietary supply. 

Asia alones produces and consumes more than 90 % in the World. Rice is a the symbol of life and fertility.

Different types of Rice

Rice are available in different size and colour. There are over 40,000 varieties of rice all over the world. Brown,Red,Black are different colours of rice. 


These edible seeds are used in Asian and Indian cuisines. Few types of rice are :

  1. Brown Rice
  2. Jasmine Rice
  3. Black Rice
  4. Sushi Rice
  5. Arborio Rice
  6. Basmati Rice
  7. Parboiled Rice
  8. Sticky Rice
  9. Valencia Rice

Does Rice arise from Ovary ?

In Botany, a fruit is a seed bearing structure develops from ovary. The Binomial name for rice is Oryza sativa. It belongs to Poaceae family of plantae kingdom.

Rice is directly formed from the ovary of the flower. It is a seed of grass species that is formed from ovary.

Classification of Fruits

Fruits are mainly classified into three types, 

  1. Simple
  2. Aggregate
  3. Multiple

Simple fruits are further classified into two types,

  1. Fleshy fruits
  2. Dry fruits

Fruits that have a large and soft succulent tissue is called as Fleshy fruits. While the fruits with no succulent are said to be Dry fruits.

The fruit wall or pericarp is divided into three layers, they are :

  1. Exocarp - Outermost layer
  2. Mesocarp - Middle layer
  3. Endocarp - Inner layer

Exocarp is the outermost and forms the exterior surface of the fruit. Mesocarp is the fleshy layer between the exocarp and endocarp. Endocarp is the innermost layer and surrounds the seed coat.


Is Rice really a fruit ?

From a botanical point, It doesn't mean that all fruits should have fleshy tissue inside them. 

Rice is a caryopsis fruit. Caryopsis is a type of simple dry fruit which is monocarpellate and indehiscent. It has infused pericarp and seed coat.

The caryopsis is called as grain which includes wheat, rice, and corn. But, the term fruits and seeds are different in plant body. So, It is difficult for us to say whether rice is a fruit or a seed.

Each grain of a rice is a fruit. The fruit of rice has two part, a seed and a dry husk.

Does it mean that rice is a vegetable?

Any part of plant that can be consumed by humans or animals are said to be a vegetable. It includes all the edible parts like fruits, seeds, flowers, leaves, stems and roots.

From the point of culinary, Rice is a grain or cereal. But, in terms of botany, it can be a fruit or vegetable.

Finally, No matter what rice is and which it belongs to, as long as it is edible. 

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