How Do Trees Bear Fruit?

Flowers Bloom to Attract Pollination

Trees produce flowers along their branches to house their reproductive organs. Flowers evolve to be colorful, sweet smelling and eye catching to attract pollinators in the form or birds and insects in addition to having the wind to move pollen around. Pollen from the same type tree or or another tree species is transferred onto reproductive organs of the tree.

Pollination Spurs Seed & Ovary Growth

The pollen deposits on the reproductive organ primarily the stamen triggers the formation of seed in the lower flower structure located under the sepals. The seed encases small sacs of the plant's DNA material considered to be an embryo. The base of the spent flower swells making a coating of varying shape, texture, thickness and size forms around the seed or seeds. This protective coating is called an ovary. The ovary protects the seed and inner embryo from temperature fluctuations and other physical damage while it matures.

Fruits Mature, Protect & Release Seed

Over a period of weeks or many months the ovary swells and matures becoming either tough, dry and hard such as a walnut or soft, moist and fleshy like a peach. This developing ovary is what we recognize as a fruit. The ovary fruit, inner seed and protected embryos mature at the same pace. When ripe, the fruit ovary begins to degrade by desiccating or rotting to facilitate the release of the seed or seeds to the soil and wind.