Fruit trees are flowering plants that produce a fruit that is consumed or used by humans. The fruit is actually a ripened ovary that contains one or more seeds for reproduction of the plant. Trees that bear nuts are also generally considered fruit trees by culinary sciences, however, the fruit industry separates them from other fruits. Each different type of tree is divided by the anatomy of the fruit and its morphology. While there are thousands of different fruit trees grown worldwide, a few are more prevalent than others.
Apple
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The apple tree is one of the largest-produced fruit tree in the world, producing 55 million tons as of 2005. Originally cultivated in central Asia, apples come in nearly 7,500 different varieties, many of which are genetically altered.
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Cherry
Known as a stony fruit, the cherry tree produces a small fleshy fruit with a single seed. It belongs to the same genus as apricots, plums and peaches. Cherries are native to North America, Europe and Asia.
Coconut
The coconut is a fruit tree grown throughout the tropical world. It can be utilized for both consumption by humans and a variety of other non-culinary uses. The fruit from the coconut tree is fleshy and features a milk-like fluid inside a hard shell.
Mango
Grown primarily in the Indian subcontinent, the mango tree is a tropical fruit and what culinary experts call a "functional food." Beyond its basic edible qualities, a number of cultures use its leaves as floral decorations for religious ceremonies and weddings.
Olive
The olive tree is one of the widest-used fruits in the world. Grown throughout the Mediterranean region as well as the Middle East, olives are eaten whole and can be converted into olive oil for a variety of cooking and medicinal uses.