What is a fruit?

A fruit is the part of the plant that nourishes and protects new seeds as they grow. The plant's ovaries develop into fruit once the eggs inside have been fertilized by pollen. Some plants produce juicy fruit, such as peaches, pears, apples, lemons, and oranges. Others produce dry fruit, such as nuts and pea pods. If an animal doesn't eat the fruit, or a human doesn't pick it off, it falls to the ground and decays and fertilizes the soil where a new seed will grow.