Aggregatfrüchte

Aggregatfrüchte, also known as aggregate fruits, are a type of fruit that develops from a single flower having multiple carpels. These carpels are not fused together but remain distinct. As the flower matures, each individual carpel develops into a small, simple fruitlet. These fruitlets then grow together on a common receptacle, forming a single, larger fruit structure that appears as if it originated from a single ovary.

The term "aggregate" refers to the coming together of these separate fruitlets. Examples of aggregate fruits include the strawberry, where the fleshy red part is actually the enlarged receptacle and the "seeds" on the surface are achenes, each a tiny fruit containing a seed. Another common example is the raspberry, which is composed of many drupelets clustered around a central core. Blackberries are also aggregate fruits, similar in structure to raspberries. Magnolias and ranunculus also produce aggregate fruits. The development process involves the pistils of a single flower maturing independently but remaining attached to the receptacle, creating the characteristic aggregate appearance.