Which part of the plant or flower contributes in the form of false fruit like apple?

In botany, fruits are classified as true fruits or false fruits based on their development. A true fruit develops solely from the mature, ripened ovary after fertilization. However, in some plants, other floral parts such as the thalamus (receptacle), calyx, or inflorescence axis contribute to the fruit formation; these are known as false fruits or pseudocarps.

In an apple, the fleshy, edible portion is derived from the enlarged thalamus that grows to surround the ovary. Other common examples of false fruits include pear, strawberry, and cashew. In contrast, options A (Petal), B (Sepal), and C (Stamen) are floral organs that typically wither and fall off after fertilization, although the sepal may persist in some fruits (like guava), it does not form the primary fleshy tissue of an apple.