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A '''list of edible seeds''' here includes seeds that are directly foodstuffs, rather than yielding derived products.
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A variety of species can provide '''edible seeds'''. Of the six major plant parts, seeds are the most important source of human food. The other five major plant parts are [[root]]s, [[stem]]s, [[leave]]s, [[flower]]s, and [[fruit]]s. Most edible seeds are [[angiosperm]]s, but a few are [[gymnosperm]]s. The most important seed food source is cereals, followed by legumes, and nuts.
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The list is divided into the following categories:
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* '''[[Bean]]s''' (or '''[[Legume]]s''') are protein-rich soft seeds.
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* '''[[Cereals]]''' (or '''grains''') are grass-like crops that are harvested for their dry seeds. These seeds are often ground to make [[flour]]. Cereals provide almost half of all calories consumed in the world.<ref name="prodstat">{{cite web
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| url=http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx
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| title=ProdSTAT
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| author=FAO
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| work=FAOSTAT
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| accessdate=2006-12-26
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}}</ref> Botanically, true cereals are members of the [[Poaceae]] or Grass family.
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** '''[[Pseudocereal]]s''' are cereal crops that are not members of the Poaceae or Grass Family.
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* '''[[Nut (fruit)|Nuts]]''' are botanically a specific type of fruit but the term is also applied to many edible seeds that are not botanically nuts.
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** '''[[Gymnosperm]]s''' produce nut-like seeds but not flowers or fruits.
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* '''[[Spices]]''' are used to flavor food rather than provide nutrients.
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== Beans ==
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See also: [[:Category:Beans]]
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Beans, also known as [[legume]]s or [[pulse (legume)|pulses]] include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/faoinfo/economic/faodef/fdef04e.htm |title=Definition and Classification of Commodities|work=Definition and Classification of Commodities|title=Pulses and derived products|date=1994|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|accessdate=2006-12-26}}</ref>
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[[Image:3 types of lentil.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lentils have been part of the human diet since the Neolithic]]
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* [[Bambara groundnut]]
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* [[Vicia faba|Broad bean]]s
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* [[Chickpea]]s
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* [[Cowpea]]s
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* [[Pulse (legume)#Classification of pulses|Dry beans]], including
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** [[Common bean]]
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** several species of ''[[Vigna]]''
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* [[Hyacinth bean]]
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* [[Lablab]]
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* [[Lentil]]s
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* [[Lupin]]s
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* [[Pea]]s
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* [[Peanut]]s
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* [[Pigeon pea]]s
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* [[Soybean]]s
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* [[Tonka bean]]s
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* [[Velvet bean]]s
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* [[Vetch]]
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* [[Winged bean]]s
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* [[Yam bean]]s
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== Cereals ==
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{{See also|Category:Cereals}}
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[[Image:GEM corn.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Maize (sometimes called "corn") is the single biggest source of food calories in the world.]]
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True [[cereal]]s are the seeds of certain species of [[grass]]. Three — maize, wheat and rice — account for about half of the calories consumed by people every year.<ref name="prodstat">{{cite web
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| url=http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx
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| title=ProdSTAT
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| author=FAO
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| work=FAOSTAT
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| accessdate=2006-12-26
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}}</ref> Grains can be ground to make [[flour]], used as the basis of [[bread]], [[cake]], [[noodles]] or other food products. They can also be boiled or steamed, either whole or ground, and eaten as is. Many cereals are present or past [[staple food]]s, provided a large fraction of the calories in the places that they are eaten. [[Cereal]]s include:
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* [[Barley]]
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* [[Fonio]]
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* [[Kamut]]
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* [[Maize]]
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* [[Millet]]
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* [[Oat]]s
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* [[Distichlis palmeri|Palmer's grass]]
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* [[Rice]]
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* [[Rye]]
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* [[Sorghum]]
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* [[Spelt]]
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* [[Teff]]
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* [[Triticale]]
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* [[Wheat]]
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* [[Wild rice]]
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=== Pseudocereals ===
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[[Image:Quinoa.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Quinoa is not a grass, but its seeds have been eaten for 6000 years.]]
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* [[Breadnut]]
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* [[Buckwheat]]
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* [[Cattail]]
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* [[Chia]]
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* [[Celosia|Cockscomb]]
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* [[Grain amaranth]]
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* [[Kañiwa]]
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* [[Quinoa]]
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* [[Wattleseed]] (also called ''acacia seed'')
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== Nuts ==
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''See also'': [[List of edible nuts]]
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[[Image:Brazil nuts.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Brazil nuts come from a South American tree]]
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According to the botanical definition, [[nut (fruit)|nuts]] are a particular kind of seed.<ref>{{cite web
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| url=http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Nut
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| title=Nut
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| work=Biology Online Dictionary
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| date=[[October 3]] [[2005]]
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| accessdate=2006-12-26
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}}</ref> [[Walnut]]s and [[acorn]]s are example of nuts, under this definition. In [[nut (fruit)|culinary terms]], however, the term is used more broadly to include fruits that are not botanically qualified as nuts, but that have a similar appearance and culinary role. Examples of culinary nuts include [[almond]]s, [[peanut]]s and [[cashew]]s.<ref>{{cite web
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| url=http://www.answers.com/topic/nut
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| title=Nut
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| work=The Columbia Online Encyclopedia
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| date=2003
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| accessdate=2006-12-26
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/es/faodef/fdef05e.htm|title=Nuts and derived products|work=Definition and Classification of Commodities|date=1996|accessdate=2006-12-26|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref>
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* [[Almond#Culinary uses|Almond]]
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* [[Beech]]
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* [[Butternut (tree)|Butternut]]
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* [[Brazilnut]]
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* [[Candlenut]]
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* [[Cashew#Uses|Cashew]]
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* [[Chestnut#Nuts|Chestnuts]], including:
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** [[Chinese Chestnut]]
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** [[Pachira aquatica|Malabar chestnut]]
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** [[Sweet Chestnut]]
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* [[Colocynth]]
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* ''[[Cucurbita ficifolia]]''
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* [[Filbert]]
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* [[Hickory#Uses|Hickory]], including
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** [[Pecan]]
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** [[Shagbark Hickory]]
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* [[Kola nut]]
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* [[Macadamia]]
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* [[Mamoncillo]]
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* [[Brosimum alicastrum|Maya nut]]
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* [[acorn|Oak acorns]]
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* [[Irvingia|Ogbono nut]]
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* [[Lecythidaceae|Paradise nut]]
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* [[Pili nut]]
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* [[Walnut#Nuts|Walnut]]
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=== Nut-like gymnosperm seeds ===
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[[Image:KoreanPineSeeds.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pine nuts are a Gymnosperm seed that is edible]]
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* [[Cycad]]s
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* [[Ginkgo]]
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* ''[[Gnetum gnemon]]''
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* [[Juniper]]
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* [[Araucaria araucana|Monkey-puzzle]]
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* [[Pine nut]]s, including
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** [[Chilgoza Pine]]
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** [[Korean Pine]]
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** [[Stone Pine]]
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** [[Colorado Pinyon]]
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** [[Mexican Pinyon]]
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** [[Single-leaf Pinyon]]
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* [[Podocarps]]
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== Spices ==
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''See also:'' [[List of herbs and spices]]
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[[Image:Coriander.png|thumb|right|200px|Coriander fruit (including its seeds) is a well-known spice.]]
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Seeds that are used to flavor other foods include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/index.html|title=Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages|accessdate=2006-12-26}}</ref>
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* [[Ajowan]] seed
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* [[Anise]] seed
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* [[Black pepper]] seed
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* [[Cardamom]] seed
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* [[Caraway]] seed
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* [[Celery]] seed
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* [[Chile pepper]] seed
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* [[Cubeb]] seed
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* [[Cumin]] seed
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* [[Coriander]] seed
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* [[Dill]] seed
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* [[Fennel]] seed
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* [[Fenugreek]] seed
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* [[Juniper]] seed
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* [[Nutmeg|Mace]]
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* [[Mustard seed]]
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* [[Nigella]] seed
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* [[Nutmeg]]
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* [[Pomegranate]] seed
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* [[Opium poppy#Use as food|Poppy seed]]
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* [[Sesame]] seed
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* [[Vanilla]]
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== Miscellaneous ==
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* [[Cempedak]]
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* [[Durian]]
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* [[Fluted pumpkin]]
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* [[Jackfruit]]
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* [[Lotus seed]]
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* [[Malabar gourd]]
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* [[Pistachio#Cultivation and uses|Pistachio]]
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* [[Pumpkin seed]]
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* [[Sunflower seed]]
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== Edible fruits of which seeds are eaten incidentally ==
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* [[Blackberry]]
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* [[Blueberry]]
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* [[Cranberry]]
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* [[Cucumber]]
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* [[Eggplant]]
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* [[Fig]]
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* [[Huckleberry]]
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* [[Kiwifruit]]
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* [[Mulberry]]
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* [[Okra]]
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* [[Raspberry]]
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* [[Strawberry]]
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* [[Tomatillo]]
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* [[Tomato]]
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* [[Winter melon]]
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* [[Zucchini]]
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== References ==
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== See also ==
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* [[List of vegetable oils]]
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* [[List of snack foods#seeds or nuts|List of seed-based snacks]]
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* [[Eastern Agricultural Complex]]
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* [[Nut (fruit)]]
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* [[Pulse (legume)|Pulse]]
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* [[Seed]]
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[[Category:Lists of foods|Seeds, list of edible]]
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[[Category:Lists of plants]]
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[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds| ]]