New puzzle, sort of...

Originally Posted by sarah

cool, like seedless grapes. wonder why more seedless fuits haven't been developed?

Because it's not advantageous to the plant. The point of a fruit (as much as evolution has a point, I know, different argument) is to coax animals into spreading the seeds. If there is no seed in the thing that the animal picks and eats, then the plant doesn't spread.

OK OK, I'll give you a hint:

It involves a clever treadmill

Originally Posted by Baph

OK OK, I'll give you a hint:

It involves a clever treadmill

and a plane that wont fly

Originally Posted by Carsick

Because it's not advantageous to the plant. The point of a fruit (as much as evolution has a point, I know, different argument) is to coax animals into spreading the seeds. If there is no seed in the thing that the animal picks and eats, then the plant doesn't spread.

yeah i understand that but seedless fruits must advantageous to people who grow and sell them as they are more valuable (surely?). was just wondering why the only fruits that have been developed without seeds are citrus fruits, grapes, bananas and watermelons (according to wikipedia).

one of the many odd jobs i had was a watermelon sexer. I had to divide up male and female watermelons. The female didn't have any seeds and were 4 times more expensive to buy.

Originally Posted by Baph

OK OK, I'll give you a hint:

It involves a clever treadmill

what was the question again??

Originally Posted by Viper

and a plane that wont fly

Check out my avatar for proof of that whole debate

Originally Posted by sarah

what was the question again??

Originally Posted by Baph

When is a fruit, not a fruit, but in fact a vegetable?

Originally Posted by Baph

Check out my avatar for proof of that whole debate

Originally Posted by Carsick

Is this the rhubarb issue where the americans were defining import duty (or whatever) based on how something was eaten rather than botanical types?

is carsick right??? sounds like a good answer to me.

Rhubarb is a Perennial plant, not a fruit, not a vegetable. So nope, that's not right.

Rhubarb is considered a vegetable because it's close to a Sorrel, and considered a fruit because it's eaten as a desert. It's in fact, a plant.

Carsick is right that the american's classified Rhubarb for tax purposes on how it's eaten though

(You eat the stem of the plant)

Originally Posted by Baph

Rhubarb is a Perennial plant, not a fruit, not a vegetable. So nope, that's not right.

Rhubarb is considered a vegetable because it's close to a Sorrel, and considered a fruit because it's eaten as a desert. It's in fact, a plant.

(You eat the stem of the plant)

i know that.

i clearly don't understand the question. maybe it's because i'm a liberal airhead?