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🔬general biology i review

Accessory fruits

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

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

  1. Accessory fruits include common examples like apples, strawberries, and pears.
  2. In accessory fruits, tissues such as the receptacle can become fleshy and edible.
  3. The main distinguishing feature of accessory fruits is that they involve non-ovarian tissues in their development.
  4. Strawberries are a classic example where the fleshy part is derived from the flower's receptacle.
  5. Accessory fruits can still undergo pollination and fertilization, but additional floral parts contribute to the final fruit structure.

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