Aggregate fruit

Aggregate Fruit

An aggregate fruit is a type of fruit that develops from the merger of several ovaries that were separate in a single flower. They are a subset of compound fruits, which also include multiple fruits and accessory fruits. Aggregate fruits are often confused with multiple fruits, which are formed from a cluster of flowers (an inflorescence).

Development

Aggregate fruits form from a single flower that has multiple carpels, which are the female reproductive structures. Each carpel contains an ovary, and as the flower matures, each ovary develops into a small fruitlet. These fruitlets cluster together to form the aggregate fruit. The structure of the fruit can vary significantly depending on the species.

Examples

Common examples of aggregate fruits include:

• Raspberry
• Blackberry
• Strawberry
• Custard apple

Each of these fruits is composed of multiple small fruitlets. For instance, in raspberries and blackberries, each fruitlet is a small drupelet, while in strawberries, the fruitlets are tiny achenes on the surface of a fleshy receptacle.

Characteristics

Aggregate fruits can vary widely in appearance and texture. Some, like raspberries and blackberries, have a juicy and fleshy texture, while others, like strawberries, have a fleshy base with small, dry fruitlets. The arrangement and attachment of the fruitlets can also differ, affecting the overall shape and size of the fruit.

Related pages

• Simple fruit
• Multiple fruit
• Accessory fruit
• Fruit anatomy

Gallery

• 
  Custard Apple, an example of an aggregate fruit.