1. Plural of pseudocarp; fruits that develop from parts of the flower other than the ovary, such as the receptacle or floral tube.
Usage: botanical term; also called accessory fruits or false fruits

Examples

• Strawberries and apples are examples of pseudocarps because the fleshy part develops from the receptacle rather than the ovary.
• Botanists distinguish between true fruits and pseudocarps based on which floral tissues contribute to fruit development.
• Many common pseudocarps, such as pears and cashew apples, are widely consumed as food.
• The study of pseudocarps helps students understand the complex anatomy of flowering plants.
• Pseudocarps demonstrate how plants have evolved diverse reproductive strategies.