Accessory fruit

Accessory Fruit

An accessory fruit or false fruit is a type of fruit that is not formed from the ovary but from different parts of the flower such as the base or receptacle, the perianth, and/or the surrounding bracts. This is in contrast to a true fruit, which develops from the ovary and surrounding tissues.

Formation

Accessory fruits are formed from parts of the flower other than the ovary. The most common type of accessory fruit is the pome, such as an apple or pear, which is formed from the receptacle of the flower. Other types of accessory fruits include the strawberry, which is formed from the receptacle and the achenes (the actual fruits), and the pineapple, which is formed from a cluster of flowers (an inflorescence).

Types

There are several types of accessory fruits, including:

• Pomes: These are fruits like apples and pears, which are formed from the receptacle of the flower. The edible part of the pome is not derived from the ovary but from the receptacle.

• Aggregate fruits: These are fruits like strawberries, which are formed from a single flower with many ovaries. The red, fleshy part of the strawberry is not derived from the ovaries but from the receptacle.

• Multiple fruits: These are fruits like pineapples and figs, which are formed from a cluster of flowers. The edible part of the multiple fruit is not derived from the ovaries but from the receptacle and other parts of the flowers.

Examples

Some examples of accessory fruits include:

• Apple: The apple is a pome, an accessory fruit in which the edible portion is not derived from the ovary but from the receptacle.

• Strawberry: The strawberry is an aggregate accessory fruit, in which the edible portion is not derived from the ovaries (the achenes, or "seeds") but from the receptacle.

• Pineapple: The pineapple is a multiple fruit, an accessory fruit formed from a cluster of flowers.

See also

• Fruit
• Pome
• Aggregate fruit
• Multiple fruit

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