The botanical classification of a plant determines what it is called in common parlance. For example, the term u0022vegetableu0022 refers to plants that do not produce flowers or fruits.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA tomato is considered a fruit because it produces seeds via a process known as flowering. This is why you cannot eat a tomato seed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, there has been a longstanding debate about whether tomatoes are a fruit. Some people argue that tomatoes are actually vegetables because they grow underground, form roots, and lack true leaves.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e Others say that tomatoes are fruits because they contain seeds and produce flowers. In 1893, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes had to be classified as vegetables since that was how it was being used.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, the botanical definition is technically that of a fruit, since the tomato forms flowers and contains seeds.