How is a simple fruit different from a complex fruit?

December 24, 2025 •

3 min read

Botanically speaking, most people are surprised to learn that a strawberry is not a berry, but an aggregate fruit. The primary difference between a simple fruit and a complex fruit lies in the flower or flowers from which they develop. Simple fruits arise from a single ovary, while complex fruits, also known as compound fruits, originate from multiple ovaries of one or more flowers.

Quick Summary

The fundamental distinction between simple and complex fruits is their botanical origin. Simple fruits develop from a single ovary of one flower, whereas complex fruits, which include aggregate and multiple types, arise from multiple ovaries from either a single or multiple flowers.

Key Points

Origin Defines Classification: Simple fruits originate from a single ovary, while complex fruits (aggregate or multiple) come from multiple ovaries from one or more flowers.
Aggregate vs. Multiple: Aggregate fruits develop from a single flower with many ovaries, whereas multiple fruits form from an entire cluster of fused flowers.
Example: Raspberry: A raspberry is an aggregate fruit because it's a cluster of many tiny 'fruitlets' (drupelets) from one flower.
Example: Pineapple: A pineapple is a multiple fruit, formed from the fusion of many individual flowers in an inflorescence.
Simplicity Isn't Always Obvious: Some simple fruits, like tomatoes, may contain many seeds, but still originate from a single, unified ovary.
Accessory Parts: The fleshy part of some complex fruits, like the strawberry, is actually the enlarged receptacle, not the ovary.

Simple Fruits: The Product of a Single Ovary

Simple fruits develop from a single pistil in a single flower. This pistil may contain one carpel or several fused carpels, but the key is that it originates from one unified female reproductive structure. This single origin point simplifies the fruit's structure and development. For instance, a peach grows from one ovary and contains one hard, central pit, a characteristic feature of a drupe, which is a type of simple fruit. Simple fruits are further categorized based on whether they are fleshy or dry at maturity.

Types of Simple Fruits

Simple fruits display a wide range of characteristics depending on how the ovary wall ripens.

Fleshy Simple Fruits:

Berries: The entire ovary wall is fleshy, with seeds embedded inside. Examples include grapes, blueberries, and tomatoes.
Drupes (Stone Fruits): These have a fleshy outer layer and a hard, stony pit enclosing the seed. Think of peaches, cherries, and plums.
Pomes: The fleshy part of the fruit is formed from the floral tube surrounding the core, which contains the seeds. Apples and pears are classic examples.
Pepo: A type of berry with a hard, thick rind, such as watermelons and cucumbers.
Hesperidium: Berries with a leathery rind and fleshy, juicy hairs, like oranges and lemons.

Dry Simple Fruits:

Dehiscent: These fruits split open at maturity to release their seeds. Examples include legume pods and capsules.
Indehiscent: These do not split open and rely on other means for seed dispersal, such as decay. Nuts and grains fall into this category.

Complex Fruits: The Merging of Multiple Ovaries

The term complex fruit is a general category that includes both aggregate and multiple fruits, which are distinct from simple fruits due to their developmental origin from multiple ovaries. This multiple origin results in a compound structure, often comprised of many smaller fruitlets.

Aggregate Fruits

Aggregate fruits develop from a single flower that contains numerous separate pistils (ovaries). Each of these individual ovaries develops into a small fruitlet, and all the fruitlets cluster together on a single receptacle. The iconic raspberry, for example, is a collection of tiny drupelets, each originating from a single ovary within the original raspberry flower. Similarly, the strawberry is an aggregate fruit, but its true fruits are the small, dry achenes on its surface, while the fleshy red part is actually the enlarged receptacle.

Multiple Fruits

Multiple fruits are formed from a cluster of flowers, known as an inflorescence. As the flowers mature, their individual fruitlets merge together to form one larger, cohesive fruit. This results in a single, large mass that appears as a single fruit but is botanically derived from many separate flowers. Pineapples are a prime example, where the fruit is a fusion of multiple individual berry-like fruits. Other examples include figs and mulberries.

Comparison Table: Simple vs. Complex Fruits


Feature	Simple Fruit	Complex Fruit (Aggregate/Multiple)
Origin	A single flower with one pistil (one or fused carpels).	Aggregate: A single flower with multiple pistils (unfused carpels). Multiple: An entire cluster of flowers (inflorescence).
Ovulation	Single ovary develops into the entire fruit.	Multiple ovaries develop into fruitlets that combine.
Structure	A single, unified fruit, though it can contain multiple seeds.	A collection of small fruitlets fused or clustered together.
Common Examples	Apple, peach, orange, pea pod, tomato, grape.	Raspberry, blackberry, strawberry (aggregate); pineapple, fig, mulberry (multiple).
Development	Ovary wall matures into the pericarp, which can be fleshy or dry.	Many ovaries mature and fuse together, sometimes involving accessory tissue.

Conclusion

While both simple and complex fruits are products of flowering plants, their fundamental difference lies in their botanical origin. A simple fruit, like an apple or a peach, develops from a single ovary in a single flower, creating a unified structure. Conversely, a complex fruit, which can be either an aggregate or multiple type, develops from multiple ovaries, resulting in a compound structure. Aggregate fruits, such as raspberries, arise from multiple ovaries within a single flower, whereas multiple fruits, like pineapples, form from an entire cluster of flowers fusing together. Understanding this floral origin is key to properly classifying and appreciating the diverse array of fruits found in nature.

For additional resources on plant anatomy and fruit development, including illustrations, the University of California Berkeley has a helpful resource available via their PEACE student organization site.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference is the floral origin. A simple fruit develops from a single ovary of a single flower, while an aggregate fruit develops from multiple, separate ovaries within a single flower.

A strawberry is an aggregate fruit, a type of complex fruit. Its edible, fleshy part is an enlarged receptacle, and the small 'seeds' on its surface are actually the individual fruitlets (achenes), each from a separate ovary in the original flower.

Common examples of multiple fruits include pineapples, figs, and mulberries. These fruits are formed from a cluster of flowers that fuse together during development.

Aggregate fruits, like raspberries, originate from one flower with multiple ovaries. Multiple fruits, like pineapples, form from an entire inflorescence, or cluster of flowers. Observing the flowering process or the structure can reveal the difference.

No, simple fruits can be either fleshy or dry. Fleshy examples include berries and drupes, while dry examples include nuts and legumes.

A tomato is a simple fruit because it develops from a single ovary of a single flower. It is specifically a berry, as the entire ovary wall becomes fleshy with the seeds embedded inside.

The botanical term for what is commonly referred to as a complex fruit is 'compound fruit.' This category includes both aggregate fruits and multiple fruits.