The black dots that cover strawberries are actually fruits formed from the separate carpels of a single flower. The fleshy and tasty portion of a strawberry derives from the receptacle of a flower with many separate carpels. Therefore, a strawberry is a. a simple fruit with many seeds. b. both a multiple fruit and an accessory fruit. c. both a simple fruit and an aggregate fruit. d. both an aggregate fruit and an accessory fruit.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the structure of a strawberry: The black dots on the surface of a strawberry are individual fruits, each developed from a separate carpel of a single flower.
2. Recognize the role of the receptacle: The fleshy and tasty part of the strawberry comes from the receptacle, which is the part of the flower that holds the carpels.
3. Define 'aggregate fruit': An aggregate fruit is formed from the fusion of several ovaries that were separate in a single flower.
4. Define 'accessory fruit': An accessory fruit includes not only the ovary but also some adjacent tissues that are not part of the carpel.
5. Choose the correct option based on definitions: Since a strawberry develops from multiple carpels of a single flower and includes the receptacle, it is both an aggregate fruit and an accessory fruit.

Key Concepts

Aggregate Fruit

An aggregate fruit is formed from a single flower that has multiple ovaries, each developing into a small fruit called a 'drupelet.' In the case of strawberries, each of the tiny black dots represents an individual ovary that has developed into a separate fruit, making strawberries an example of an aggregate fruit.

Accessory Fruit

An accessory fruit is a type of fruit that includes tissues from parts of the flower other than the ovary. In strawberries, the fleshy part that we eat is derived from the receptacle of the flower, which is not part of the ovary but contributes to the fruit's structure, classifying strawberries as accessory fruits.

Multiple Fruit

A multiple fruit is formed from the ovaries of multiple flowers that grow closely together. While strawberries are not classified as multiple fruits, understanding this concept helps differentiate them from fruits like pineapples, which develop from a cluster of flowers. This distinction is crucial for accurately categorizing strawberries.