The thick fleshy protective layer that surrounds the seed inside mature fruits is called which?

• A. Endosperm
• B. Fruit
• C. Seed coat
• D. Embryo

Answer: (B)

Think about what forms the fleshy, protective outer part around seeds as a fruit matures. This surrounding tissue comes from the ovary wall and is the part we call the fruit (the pericarp). So, the thick fleshy layer around seeds inside a mature fruit is best described as the fruit itself, since it encloses and protects the seeds. The other terms refer to different structures: endosperm is the nutrient tissue inside the seed, the seed coat is the outer protective layer of the seed itself, and the embryo is the young plant inside the seed.