Accessory fruit

A selection of accessory fruits (from left to right: pear, fig, and strawberry)

An accessory fruit is a fruit that contains tissue derived from plant parts other than the ovary. In other words, the flesh of the fruit develops not from the floral ovary, but from some adjacent tissue exterior to the carpel (for example, from receptacles or sepal). As a general rule, the accessory fruit is a combination of several floral organs, including the ovary. In contrast, true fruit forms exclusively from the ovary of the flower.[1]

Accessory fruits are usually indehiscent, meaning that they do not split open to release seeds when they have reached maturity.[2]

  1. ^ Esau, K. 1977. Anatomy of seed plants. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
  2. ^ "Glossary Details – The William & Lynda Steere Herbarium". sweetgum.nybg.org. Retrieved 2021-03-17.