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7.04 Seeds and Fruits

Well, hello! Leon told me you'd be my guests today. Welcome! You know, I am no scientist, but every good research base needs a good chef. I am Maurice, the head chef here at S.Mi.L.E.

As you've been discovering, plants are quite interesting and reproduce in a variety of ways. In the activity I have planned for you today, you'll discover another way that plants are important to the success of this project. Come right this way, and we'll get started.


In this activity, you will:
  • compare adaptations of different seeds
  • relate the structure of a fruit to its function

Take minute to look at this display I've created for you. My assistants collected all of these items from our hydroponics farm this morning.

Which of the following is NOT a fruit? (Roll your mouse over each image.)

red apple, text says An apple is a fruit.      2 cucumbers, text says A cucumber is a fruit.      wheat, text says Wheat grains are fruits
red grapes, text says Grapes are fruits.      tray of nuts, text says Nuts are fruits.      burrs and stickers, text says Burrs and stickers are fruits.
red tomato, text says A tomato is a fruit.      strawberry, text says A strawberry is a fruit.      greenbeans, text says Greenbeans are fruits.

Did you get it right? Yes, that's correct, they're ALL fruits!

A fruit is defined as the reproductive part of the plant that covers and protects the seeds. We don't usually call green beans, wheat, nuts, or sand spurs fruits, however, by definition that is what they are. They are the female reproductive ovary that develops around the seeds.

Yes, I said ovary. Let's check this out!

Move on to the BioVenture tab to continue this activity.

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