Observation
Delicious Fun Facts from the Field: Secrets of Vegetables
In this "Let’s Look" section, we will learn about vegetables. The vegetables we eat every day are very familiar plants. Did you know that that vegetable and this vegetable belong to the same family? It might change the way you think about vegetables.
What You’ll Learn in “Let's Look”
- What kind of flowers do vegetables bloom?
- How are vegetables grouped into families?
Today's theme is "Vegetables"!
Hmm.
Well, I do like tomatoes, though.
Well, I do like tomatoes, though.
Tomatoes are delicious, whether eaten as is or used in spaghetti sauce!
That's right!
Well then, let's look at a tomato flower.
Huh?!A flower?
That's a bit sudden...
That's a bit sudden...
Well, don’t be like that. Just take a quick look.
This is a tomato flower.
This is a tomato flower.
Wow.
The part of the tomato we eat is red, but the flower isn't red.
The part of the tomato we eat is red, but the flower isn't red.
TWell, don’t be like that. Just take a quick look. This is a tomato flower.
Hmm, the petals are pointed.
Yes, the tomato flower is yellow, with pointed petals that are connected at the base. Actually, tomatoes belong to the same family as eggplants.
Really? Eggplants and tomatoes seem totally different!
The parts we eat may not look alike, but when you look at the flowers, you'll see they're all part of the same family.
Really?
Look closely at these photos of eggplant and tomato flowers.
They still look different...
Well, it's not about the color, but the petals...
Oh, even though the colors are different, both have petals connected like a trumpet!
That's right, and the petals are split on the outside! Plants in the same family often have similar flower shapes.
I think I want to hear more about vegetables!
Sounds good!
I've prepared lots of vegetable flowers, so try to find the ones related to eggplants among these!
I've prepared lots of vegetable flowers, so try to find the ones related to eggplants among these!
Whoa, that's sudden...
Ah, maybe I got a little too excited...
How about we just line up the flowers like this and take a look?
How about we just line up the flowers like this and take a look?
The ones that look like eggplant flowers are...
potato and bell pepper, right?
potato and bell pepper, right?
Exactly! Correct!
Yay!
So, what parts looked similar?
They all have a big middle part that sticks out.
That's right, good observation!
The part that sticks out is called the stamen and pistil.
Flowers of plants in the nightshade family are grouped like this.
The part that sticks out is called the stamen and pistil.
Flowers of plants in the nightshade family are grouped like this.
I feel like I'm starting to understand how to look at flowers.
Sounds good!
Now, how about the flowers of Chinese cabbage, cabbage, and radish? These three vegetables belong to the same family too!
Now, how about the flowers of Chinese cabbage, cabbage, and radish? These three vegetables belong to the same family too!
Hmm, the petals are four and separated.
Wow, you have a good eye! These three belong to the mustard family! Mustard flowers are grouped like this.
Interesting.
I've never really looked at vegetable flowers before, but they're actually pretty.
I've never really looked at vegetable flowers before, but they're actually pretty.
Exactly! They make such beautiful flowers!
In the next "Let’s Think" section, we'll have a quiz about the parts you eat!
In the next "Let’s Think" section, we'll have a quiz about the parts you eat!
If it's something you eat all the time, it should be easy, right?
What You Learned in "Let's Look"
- Vegetables can be grouped by their flowers.
- The flowers of the nightshade family have petals that are split apart but joined at the base like a trumpet.
- The flowers of the mustard family have four separate rounded petals arranged in the shape of a cross.