Accessory fruits
Definition
Accessory fruits are fruits in which some of the flesh is derived not from the ovary but from some adjacent tissue exterior to the carpel. These fruits often involve other parts of the flower, such as the receptacle or hypanthium, contributing to the fruit's structure.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Accessory fruits include common examples like apples, strawberries, and pears.
- In accessory fruits, tissues such as the receptacle can become fleshy and edible.
- The main distinguishing feature of accessory fruits is that they involve non-ovarian tissues in their development.
- Strawberries are a classic example where the fleshy part is derived from the flower's receptacle.
- Accessory fruits can still undergo pollination and fertilization, but additional floral parts contribute to the final fruit structure.
Review Questions
- What distinguishes accessory fruits from simple fruits?
- Which part of a strawberry is considered an accessory tissue?
- Name three examples of accessory fruits.
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Related terms
Simple Fruits: Fruits developed solely from one ovary of a single flower.
Aggregate Fruits: Fruits formed from multiple ovaries of one flower.
Multiple Fruits: Fruits formed from the ovaries of multiple flowers growing in a cluster.
