What is the mature ovary of a flowering plant that encloses its seeds called?

The mature ovary of a flowering plant that encloses its seeds is known as fruit. Fruit develops from the fertilized ovary after pollination and serves the important ecological function of protecting the seeds and aiding in their dispersal. As the ovary matures, it often transforms into a structure that can take on various forms and textures, containing seeds within it.

In seed plants, the fruit provides additional advantages, such as attracting animals for seed dispersal and contributing to the reproductive success of the plant. The different types of fruits, whether fleshy like berries or dry like nuts, demonstrate the diversity of adaptations plants have evolved for their reproductive strategies.

The other terms listed do have distinct roles in plant biology. For instance, seeds are the units of reproduction and can develop into new plants; endosperm is the tissue produced within the seeds that provides nourishment to the developing embryo; and cotyledons are the first leaves that sprout from a seed during germination, serving as a source of energy until the plant can perform photosynthesis.