Fruits

Fruits are a unique structure found

only in angiosperms. Fruits develop
from the ovary of the flower and
may, in addition, include various
accessory structures that derive
from other parts of the flower or
influorescence.
The two major functions of fruits
are :

(i) to protect the ovules as

they mature into seeds,

and

(ii) To aid in seed dispersal

Each structure in the fruit develops from
a corresponding structure in the flower.

FLOWER STRUCTURE FRUIT STRUCTURE

ovary fruit (pericarp)

ovule seed

integuments seed coat

zygote embryo (in the seed)

cental cell (in the
endosperm
seed)
Pericarp = the fruit wall. There are
three layers, but they are not
always distinguishable:

1. Endocarp - inner layer

2. Mesocarp - middle layer
3. Exocarp - outer layer.
Fruits that split open are called
dehiscent. In a dehiscent fruit,
the seeds are the unit of
dispersal.

Fruits that do not split open are

indehiscent. In an indehiscent
fruit, the fruit and seed become
an integrated dispersal unit.
Fruit Classification

Fruit classification is based primarily on the

following criteria:

Whether the fruit is dry or fleshy

Whether the fruit is dehiscent or
indehiscent
Number of flowers/ovaries that make
up the fruit
Number of seeds in the fruit
Ovary position
Family to which the plant belongs
How many carpels/flowers make up
the fruit?

Simple Fruit

Derived from a single flower with a single

ovary. May have one carpel or several fused
carpels, but always from a single gynoecium.
There are many examples of simple fruits.
Aggregate Fruit

Derived from a single flower with several

unfused carpels within a single gynoecium
Ex: Rasberries

Mulitple Fruit

Derived from several flowers

(inflorescence)
Ex: Pineapple, jackfruit
 Identification of Fruit Types
I. Simple Fruits

Fruits formed from one gynoecium. They

may be either true or accessory fruits.
Accessory fruits contain structures derived
from parts of the flower other than the
ovary. Simple fruits may contain one to
thousands of seeds.

A. Dry Fruits - Fruits in which the coat

becomes dry at maturity.
1. Dehiscent Fruits - Dry
fruits which at maturity
open by definite natural
means to shed the
contained seeds.
i. Follicle A dry dehiscent fruit developed from
1 carpel and at maturity splitting along only
one seam. (milkweed, magnolia)

ii. Legume A dry

dehiscent fruit
developed from 1 carpel
and at maturity
splitting along two
seams. (beans, peas).
iii. Silique - a special long slender
capsule of 2 carpels. Splits along two
seems and contains an inner membrane
known as the replem. This fruit type and
another closely related fruit type known as
a silicle is typical of the mustard family.
iv. Capsule A dry dehiscent fruit
developed from several united
(syncarpous) carpels. There are several
types of capsules.
 In a loculicidal capsule, the
(a) Loculicidal capsule -
fruit dehisces longitudinally
one which splits along through the locules
the outer median line.
(lilies).
(b) Septicidal
capsule - one
which splits
Aristolochia
along the septa
and opens at
the top.

In a septicidal
capsule, the
fruits dehisce
by separating
between the
septa of
adjacent
carpels.
(c) Poricidal
capsule - one
which opens with
round holes.
(poppies).
2. Indehiscent fruits -
Dry fruits which do not
open when mature to
shed their seeds. Many
of this group are one
seeded fruits.
i. Achene - A one-seeded, dry, indehiscent
fruit; the one seed is free from the
pericarp except for a single point of
attachment (buttercups, dandelion,
sunflower).
ii. Nut - A dry, indehiscent, one seeded fruit
similar to an achene but with the wall (pericarp)
greatly thickened and hardened, often with an
involucre present, as in an acorn (beech,
chestnut, oak)
iii. Samara - A one- or two-seeded dry,
indehiscent fruit in which part of the
fruit wall grows out into a wing, a winged
achene (elm, maple, ash).

iv. Caryopsis (grain) - A one-seeded dry,

indehiscent fruit in which the fruit wall
and the seed coat are fused, typical of
grasses (wheat, corn).
v. Schizocarp - A fruit formed from
several carpels, each carpel of this
pistil enclosing a single ovule, at
maturity the carpels separate as
separate indehiscent fruits. (mallow,
wild carrot, dill).
B. Fleshy Fruits - A fruit in which the wall becomes
soft and fleshy as it matures.

1. Drupe - A one-seeded simple "stone fruit"

developed from a superior ovary in which the
innermost portion of the wall, the endocarp,
becomes hard and stony, the outermost part, the
exocarp, becomes a relatively thin skin, and the
middle portion between the skin and the stone, the
mesocarp, becomes either fleshy or fibrous.
(cherry, coconut, olive)
2. Berry - A simple fruit in which the ovary wall or
at least its inner portions become enlarged and
usually juicy. (grape, banana, gooseberry).

Two special types of berry-like fruits may be singled

out for special consideration.
(a) Hesperidium - This is a special type of
berry in which a leathery rind forms; the interior
of the fruit divided by septa, indicating the
number of carpels. (citrus).

(b) Pepo - This is a special type of berry in

which a relatively hard rind is formed; the interior
of fruit not divided by septa. (watermelon,
gourds, squash).
3. Pome - An accessory fleshy fruit formed by a group
of carpels from an inferior ovary and surrounded by
and united to the floral tube or receptacle. (apple,
pear, mountain ash).
II. Aggregate Fruit

A fruit formed by the development of a number

of gynoecia from the same flower. The
individual units may be berries, achenes, or
other specific types. (raspberry, strawberry).

III. Multiple Fruit

A fruit formed by the development of a

number of gyneocia often with accessory
parts, the gynoecia being from a number of
separate flowers. (mulberry, sweetgum, fig).
In corn and other monocots, the single
cotyledon, known as the scutellum, absorbs
food reserves from the endosperm. The
coleoptile and coleorhiza are sheaths that
enclose the apical meristem of the shoot
and root respectively. After the root
emerges the seed sends out its coleoptile
and finally a pair of true leaves (plumules)
emerge.
differentiation. The result is the plant embryo encased in a structure called a
seed

 
           
                                                                                                                    

The Seed of a Dicot