berry, inbotany, a simple fleshyfruit that usually has manyseeds, such as thebanana,grape,melon,orange, andtomato. As a simple fruit, a berry isderived from a singleovary of an individualflower. The middle and inner layers of the fruit wall often are not distinct from each other. Together withdrupes (e.g.,cherry,mango, andolive) and pomes (e.g.,apple,pear, andloquat), berries are one of the main types of fleshy fruits.

Any small fleshy fruit is popularly called aberry, especially if it is edible.Raspberries,blackberries, andstrawberries, for example, are not true berries but areaggregate fruits—fruits that consist of a number of smaller fruits.Cranberries andblueberries, however, are true botanical berries.

There are two specific types of berries that characterize certain taxonomic groups. The leathery-rinded berry of citrus fruits (genusCitrus) is called ahesperidium. Theelongated tough-skinned fruits of the familyCucurbitaceae, including watermelons, cucumbers, and gourds, are a type of berry referred to aspepos.