AGGREGATE FRUIT Meaning and
Definition
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An aggregate fruit refers to a type of fruit that is formed by the fusion of multiple ovaries belonging to multiple flowers of the same inflorescence. It is a fruiting structure that results from the development of numerous individual carpels, each containing a single ovary, which mature into small, discrete fruits called drupelets, nutlets, or berries.
In an aggregate fruit, the individual carpels are closely arranged in a cluster and can be seen as separate sections or segments within the mature fruit. Each carpel typically contains a single seed, although in some cases, the seeds may be reduced or absent. The maturation of the ovaries within the aggregate fruit results in the enlargement and growth of the individual drupelets, nutlets, or berries.
In popular examples of aggregate fruits, such as raspberries and blackberries, the small, juicy drupelets are loosely attached to a central core or receptacle, forming a clustered structure. Each drupelet contains an individual seed but is still considered part of the larger fruit. Similarly, strawberries are another well-known example of an aggregate fruit, where the tiny achenes (seeds) are embedded on the surface of a fleshy receptacle.
Aggregate fruits often exhibit various colors, textures, and flavors, making them visually appealing and palatable to animals and humans. They serve as a critical food source, often filled with essential nutrients, and play an important role in seed dispersal strategies within plant populations.
Common Misspellings for AGGREGATE FRUIT
- zggregate fruit
- sggregate fruit
- wggregate fruit
- qggregate fruit
- afgregate fruit
- avgregate fruit
- abgregate fruit
- ahgregate fruit
- aygregate fruit
- atgregate fruit
- agfregate fruit
- agvregate fruit
- agbregate fruit
- aghregate fruit
- agyregate fruit
- agtregate fruit
- aggeegate fruit
- aggdegate fruit
- aggfegate fruit
Etymology of AGGREGATE FRUIT
The word "aggregate" in the term "aggregate fruit" comes from the Latin word "aggregatus", which means "collected" or "assembled". In botany, it refers to a type of fruit that develops from multiple ovaries in a single flower, where each ovary forms a separate small unit within the larger fruit structure. The term describes the process by which the individual parts are collected or assembled together to create the aggregate fruit.
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