Q.Why is apple called a false fruit? Which part(s) of the flower forms the fruit?
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →An apple is called a false fruit because its edible portion develops primarily from the thalamus, an accessory floral part, rather than solely from the ripened ovary.
To understand why an apple is botanically classified as a false fruit, we must first clarify the definition of a "true fruit." In botany, a true fruit is defined as a mature or ripened ovary, which develops after fertilisation. The wall of the ovary transforms into the fruit wall, known as the pericarp, which encloses the seeds. This pericarp can often be differentiated into three layers: the outer epicarp, the middle mesocarp, and the inner endocarp.
However, in some plants, the fruit develops not only from the ovary but also from other floral parts. These fruits are then termed false fruits or pseudocarps. The apple is a prime example of such a fruit. In the apple, the fleshy, edible part that we consume is predominantly derived from the thalamus (also known as the receptacle). The thalamus is the swollen tip of the flower stalk to which the various floral organs are attached. The actual ovary, which contains the ovules that mature into seeds, is embedded within this fleshy thalamus and forms the central, often cartilaginous, core of the apple.
A true fruit develops exclusively from the ripened ovary after fertilisation. A false fruit, conversely, involves other floral parts, such as the thalamus, in its formation, contributing significantly to the fruit structure.
Therefore, because the thalamus contributes substantially to the fruit's structure, forming the bulk of the edible portion, the apple is botanically categorised as a false fruit. Other examples of false fruits include strawberries, where the fleshy part is the receptacle, and cashews, where the pedicel becomes fleshy.
Regarding the parts of the flower that form the fruit: …
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