Matured and ripened ovaries.

Holds and protects the seeds until they mature.

Helps in the dissemination or dispersal of the seeds.

Does not only apply to those that have edible portions, but also to those which are commonly referred to as vegetable.

Part of a Fruit

ExocarpOutermost layer of the fruit wall

MesocarpMiddle layer

EndocarpInnermost layer

Classification of Fruits

As to the composition or number of flowers involved in their formation

1. Simple Fruits develops from one ovary

2. Aggregate Fruit develops from several ovaries of a single flower

3. Collective or Multiple Fruit derived from several ovaries

of several flowers or from the ovaries of a compact inflorescence.

As to structure, consistency & dehiscence (includes the state of the pericarp in the ripened fruit)

1. Fleshy when the pericarp is soft, juicy (or pulpy) or succulent

2. Dry when the pericarp is dry or papery upon maturity

Dichotomous Key

1 Simple Fruits

2 Fleshy Fruits

3 Fleshy part derived from the ovary

4 Entire ovary fleshy, enclosing several seeds .….. berry

5 Leathery rind …………………………………… hespiridium

5 Hard rind ………………………………………..pepo

6 Outer part of ovary fleshy, inner part stony

usually enclosing one seed ………………………. drupe

6 Mesocarp fleshy ………………………………. fleshy drupe

6 Mesocarp fibrous ………………………………fibrous drupe

3 Fleshy part derived mainly from the torus …………..pome

Derived from a fleshy ovary enclosing several seeds. Has thick leathery skin containing oil.

Simple-Fleshy-Berry-Hespiridium

Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata)Kalamansi (Citrus microcarpa)

peel/exocarp

albedo/mesocarp

carpels sections with fluid-filled sacs called vesicles

endocarp

seed

flavedo/epicarp

Hespiridium Anatomy

septum

Simple-Fleshy-Berry-PepoDerived from a fleshy ovary enclosing many seeds.

Pepo has hard, thick rind.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Water melon (Citrullus lanatus)

Pepo Anatomy

Simple-Fleshy-Drupe-Fleshy

Peach (Prunus persica) Mango (Mangifera Indica)

Fleshy mesocarp and ovary. Seed enclosed within a stony endocarp (pit).

Fleshy Drupe Anatomy

endocarp

seed

seed

endocarp

Simple-Fleshy-Drupe-Fibrous

Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

Fibrous mesocarp and fleshy ovary. Seed enclosed within a stony endocarp (pit)

Fibrous Drupe Anatomy

Simple-Fleshy-PomeFleshy part derived mainly from torus. Ovary

surrounded by fleshy hypanthium.

Apple (Malus domestica) Pears (Pyrus sp.)

Pome Anatomy

2 Dry Fruits

7 Dehiscent

8 Fruit derived from one carpel

9 Splitting along 1 seam (1 suture) .……..……… follicle

9 Splitting along 2 seams (2 sutures) ...…..…….. legume/pod

8 Fruit derived from 2 or more carpel

10 Carpels 2, persistent partition wall

after splitting …..………………………………… silique

10 Carpels 2 or more, splitting in one

of four different ways …………………………… capsule

11 Splitting along the locule ……….…………..loculicidal

11 Splitting along the septa ……………………septicidal

11 Splitting along the terminal pore ………….. poricidal

11 Splitting along a circular horizontal line ….. circumscissile

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Follicle

Kalachuchi (Plumeria rubra) Star anise (Illicium verum)

Dry fruit derived from one carpel splitting along one seam

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Legume/Pod

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)Chicharo (Pisum sativum)

Dry fruit derived from one carpel splitting along two seam

Narrowleaf bittercress (Cardamine impatiens)

Bluepod Rockcress (Boechera glaucovalvula)

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-SiliqueDry fruit derived from two or more carpel with

persistent partition wall after splitting

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Capsule

Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis) Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)

Loculicidal (Splitting along the locule)

Septicidal(Splitting along the septum)

Derived from two or more carpel splitting in one or four ways

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Capsule

Twinberry (Menodora scabra)Opium (Papaver somniferum)

Circumscissile(Splitting along a circular horizontal line)

Poricidal(Splitting along the terminal pore)

7 Indehiscent Fruits

12 Seed inseparable from the fruit wall …………………… grain/caryopsis

12 Seed separable from the fruit wall

13 Fruit with wings ……………………………………….. samara/key

13 Fruit without wings

14 Fruit wall very hard, one seeded ….……………. nut

14 Fruit wall thin, one seed attached

to ovary wall at one point ………………………… achene

12 Seeds not coming out of fruit although united

carpels split apart at maturity .……………………………

schizocarp

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Grain/Caryopsis

Rice (Oriza sativa) Corn (Zea mays)

Seed inseparable from the fruit wall.

Rice Grain Anatomy

Corn Kernel Anatomy

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Samara/Key

Mahogany (Shorea negrosensis) Narra (Pterocarpus indicus)

Seed separable from the fruit wall. Fruit with wings

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Nut

Pili nut (Canarium ovatum)

Cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale)

Fruit without wings and with very hard fruit wall. Has only one seed.

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Achene

Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Seed without wings and with thin fruit wall. One seed attached to ovary wall at one point.

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-SchizocarpSeed not coming out of fruit although united

carpels split apart at maturity

Little mallow (Malva parviflora) Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)

1 Compound Fruits

15 Fruits from several ovaries of one flower massed

on a common receptacle .……………………………….... aggregate

15 Fruit from several ovaries of several flowers

of compact inflorescence …………………………………. collective/multiple

Compound-Aggregate

Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)

Many ovaries derived from a single flower

Compound-Multiple/CollectiveFrom several ovaries of several flowers of a

compact inflorescence

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Seed Dispersal

insects — insects much less important for dispersal than pollination, but ants often involved in dispersal

birds, mammals, reptiles, and even fish — much more important for dispersal than pollination

wind — important in both pollination and dispersal

water — minor importance in pollination, somewhat greater in dispersal

self dispersal — just like some plants carry out self pollination, some plants have mechanisms for self dispersal.

Plants often solicit the aid of animals, as well as abiotic forces such as wind, to accomplish both of these.

Avoid competition with parent and siblings

Colonize new habitats

Avoid pathogens and predators

Minimize inbreeding

Why is dispersal important?

Wind — prairie/grasslands, mountains, forest trees, weedy areas

External attachment to animals — forest plants relatively low to ground

Ingestion by animals — forest plants

Water — plants that grow in wetlands and along streams

Ballistic — various; some parasitic plants, some forest plants, some weedy plants

Methods of dispersal are often tied to certain habitats