Is Broccoli a Legume?

First let me answer this question: what is a legume? Well, a legume is any of the thousands of plant species in the legume family Leguminosae. They have seed pods that split along both of their sides when they are fully ripened. The most common legumes in our culture are beans, lentils, peanuts, peas and soybeans.

Now let’s look at broccoli. Is it a legume? Well, the name gives it away. The word broccoli actually comes from an Italians word, “broccolo”, which refers to “the flowering top of a cabbage”. Now that sure doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with a seed pod. Nor when we picture broccoli does it seem to fit in with beans, lentils, peas or peanuts. So you and I can easily conclude that broccoli is not, in fact, a legume.

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