No, a pomegranate is not a false fruit. It is a true berry. This means that the edible part of the fruit develops from the ovary of the flower and contains the seeds.
Although the pomegranate's outer covering (husk) might appear to be the fruit, it's actually made up of two layers:
- Epicarp: The hard outer layer of the husk
- Mesocarp: The fleshy inner layer of the husk
The fleshy part that we eat is not the husk but rather the arils, which are the seeds covered in a juicy, edible membrane.
Many people mistakenly consider the pomegranate a false fruit because the edible part is the seed's covering, not the ovary. However, the ovary is indeed present and develops into the fruit, making it a true berry.
