Fruits are, by definition, the mature, seed-containing ovaries of flowers. We sometimes use the terms “fruit” and “vegetable”, which are frequently confused. The term “fruit” is a botanical term (ovary after fertilization), but “vegetable” is not. For simplicity, any plant structure that contains seeds is a botanical fruit; those edible plant parts that are roots, stems, or leaves could be considered vegetables. Some plant parts may be a plant’s fruit, but a grocery store vegetable (e.g. tomato). Fruits come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, but not all fruits are edible to humans or other animals. The smallest fruit belongs to the smallest plant, the waterweed (Wolffia), which has fruits the size of a salt grain. The largest fruit on record is something in the gourd family; specifically a pumpkin that weighed 1,300 lbs. The largest fruit from a tree is the jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), which can weigh up to 75 lbs.
Functions of fruits
■ Protection: Fruits are a plants way of protecting their young: the seeds.
■ Dispersal: Fruits disperse their seeds through a variety of methods. Fruits are commonly thought of as large, juicy structures, such as grapefruits, apples, or pumpkins, but they can be dry and hardened structures as well.