infructescence

{{short description|Ensemble of fruits derived from the ovaries of an inflorescent plant}}

In botany, infructescence (fruiting head) is defined as the ensemble of fruits derived from the ovaries of an inflorescence. It usually retains the size and structure of the inflorescence.{{Citation |title=infructescence |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/infructescence |work=The Free Dictionary |access-date=2022-03-18}}

In some cases, infructescences are similar in appearance to simple fruits. These are called multiple fruits. One example is the infructescence of Ananas, which is formed from the fusion of the berries with receptacle tissues and bracts.{{Cite web |title=Multiple Fruits, Pineapple Multiple Fruit, Examples of Multiple Fruits, Types of Multiple Fruits |url=https://www.fruitsinfo.com/multiple-fruit.php |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=www.fruitsinfo.com}}{{Cite web |title=Multiple Fruits |url=https://science.jburroughs.org/resources/flower/fruit5.html |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=science.jburroughs.org |archive-date=2022-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108103359/https://science.jburroughs.org/resources/flower/fruit5.html |url-status=dead }}

The mature infructescence of a grain, such as wheat or maize, is known as an ear. The infructescence of Ficus is called a syconium.{{Cite web |title=Definition of SYCONIUM |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syconium |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}

{{gallery

| File:Split ananas.jpg|Ananas (pineapple) infructescence

| File:More grapes.jpg|Vitis (grape) infructescence

| File:Hordeum vulgare ripe, Gerst oogstrijp.jpg|An ear of grain (barley)

| File:Ripe Seeds Coffee Robusta Coorg Karnataka India Feb24 D72 25688.jpg|Coffea canephora (coffee robusta) berries

}}