Epigynous berry

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Remnants of the floral parts are clearly evident on these immature banana fruits, demonstrating that the fruit is developing from an inferior ovary

A blueberry carries the five sepals of the flower at the tip, showing that the berry forms below the flower.

An epigynous berry or false berry is an accessory fruit found in certain plant species with an inferior ovary, distinguishing it from a true berry. In these species other parts of the flower (including the basal parts of the sepals, petals, and stamens) can ripen along with the ovary, forming the false berry. The fruit of Cucurbitaceae is a false berry called a pepo.

Examples of plants which produce false berries include:

• Banana
• family Cucurbitaceae
  • Cucumis, like cucumber and canteloupe
  • Watermelon
  • Cucurbita (gourds), like squash and pumpkin
• genus Ribes, such as gooseberry and the currants (including redcurrant and blackcurrant)
• genus Vaccinium including blueberry, and cranberry.