Legal Definitions - fructus naturales

Fructus naturales refers to the natural produce of land or plants, and the offspring of animals, that grow or are born without human cultivation or significant intervention. Legally, these items are considered an inherent part of the land itself, meaning they are treated as real property rather than separate personal property.

• Example 1: Natural Forest Growth

  Imagine a large, undeveloped plot of land that features a stand of mature pine trees and various native shrubs that have grown naturally over many years. These trees and shrubs are considered fructus naturales. If the landowner decides to sell this property, the natural forest growth is automatically included as part of the real estate transaction, transferring with the land to the new owner without needing to be separately itemized or valued as personal property.

• Example 2: Livestock Offspring

  Consider a dairy farm where a herd of cows is kept for milk production. When one of these cows gives birth to a calf, that calf is an example of fructus naturales. From a legal perspective, the newborn calf is immediately considered part of the farm's real property assets, just like the land and the existing herd, rather than a separate piece of personal property that could be sold independently of the farm's overall value at the moment of birth.

• Example 3: Wild Plants on Property

  On a large rural estate, there might be areas where wild grapevines grow along a fence line, or patches of indigenous wildflowers bloom in an uncultivated meadow. These wild grapevines and wildflowers are fructus naturales. If the estate were to be sold, these natural growths would be included as part of the land itself, transferring to the new owner without any special mention, because they are considered inherent components of the real property.