Epigynous berry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An epigynous berry or false berry is an accessory fruit found in certain plant species with an inferior ovary, distinguishing it from a true berry. In these species other parts of the flower (including the basal parts of the sepals, petals, and stamens) can ripen along with the ovary, forming the false berry. The fruit of Cucurbitaceae is a false berry called a pepo.
Examples of plants which produce false berries include:
- Banana
- family Cucurbitaceae
- Cucumis, like cucumber and canteloupe
- Watermelon
- Cucurbita (gourds), like squash and pumpkin
- genus Ribes, such as gooseberry and the currants (including redcurrant and blackcurrant)
- genus Vaccinium including blueberry, and cranberry.
| Botanical parlance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True berry | Epigynous berry | Other accessory fruits | ||
| Common parlance | Berry | Grape | Currant, blueberry, gooseberry | Strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, boysenberry |
| Other | Tomato, persimmon, eggplant, chili pepper | Banana, cucumber, avocado, squash, pumpkin, melon, watermelon, lingonberry | Apple, peach, green bean, sunflower seed, guava | |
| Types of fruits |
|---|
| Berries | Drupes | Pomes | Aggregate fruits | False berries | Accessory fruit |
