FRUITS

A fruit A seed
develops develops
from the from the
ovary wall ovule after
after fertilization
fertilization of of the egg
the egg in the in the ovule
ovule
FRUITS
POLLINATION
DISPERSION
Zoophily /
Anemochoory /
Entomophily/
Zoochory /
Ornithophily/
Ornithochory /
Anemophily/
Anthropochory /
Hydrophily
Hydrochory
 FRUIT:
A fully developed and ripened ovary containing seeds

GOAL: Seed Dispersal

*Ovary tissue stores

carbohydrates & water
*Pigment may change over time
 What is the purpose of the fruit?
• The main function of the fruit is to disperse the
seeds

• Dispersal is important because

• It spreads the progeny in order to colonize new
environments
• Reduces the chances of predators destroying all of
the plant’s yearly seed production
• Four types of seed dispersal:
A. Self dispersal
B. Wind dispersal
C. Water dispersal
D. Animal dispersal
 A. Self dispersal
• Plants disperse their seeds by forceful
ejection – explosive fruits!
e.g cucumber (jet propulsion)
 Self dispersal
• The peanut plant sows

(buries) its own seeds!

• Geocarpic: carpel
grows inside the earth
(soil)
 B. Wind dispersal
• Fruit and seeds may have special devices
for wind dispersal
• Plumes catch wind currents: Dandelion
• Trees take advantage of their great heights
for wind dispersal. Fruits with wings are
used to slow the descent to land: maple, ash
fruit
 C. Water Dispersal

• Fruits and/or seeds use flotation devices to

travel by water (in rivers, oceans, etc.)
• Fruit may have air spaces and corky floats:
for example ________________
 D. Animal dispersal
• Plants have _____________ with animals to
accomplish seed dispersal.
• Many plants depend on animals for seed
dispersal; they may offer a nutritional reward
• Animals learn to recognize ripened fruit colors
• Fleshy fruits eaten and dispersed
with feces
 Animal dispersal
• Some dry fruit attach and cling to animals
(they hitchhike on the animals)
• Some have Velcro-like hooks that cling to
animal fur (burdock, cockleburs)
• Others have sticky substances that stick to
host (mistletoe)
The mature fruit (pericarp) can be
analyzed on the basis of the characteristics
of three subdivisions

Exocarp = outermost
Mesocarp = middle
Endocarp = innermost

True Fruit: formed from the ovary alone

False Fruit: When other parts of flower also participate in formation

Dehiscent: Pericarp breaks in a predetermined manner so as to liberate the seeds.

(a) Transverse (upper part abscessed like a cap)
(b) Porous (seeds liberated through apical or basal pores)
(c) Valvular (fruit dehiscent longitudinally)

Indehiscent: Pericarp does not rupture, seeds liberated by only its normal decay
 TWO TYPES OF FRUIT

A.FLESHY

B. DRY
Classification of Fruits
Classification of Fruits
 SIMPLE FRUIT
• When a single fruit develops from a single
ovary of a single flower, it is called a simple
fruit.

• The ovary may belong to a monocarpellary

simple gynoecium or to a polycarpellary
syncarpous gynoecium.

• There are two categories of simple fruits—

dry and fleshy.
 SIMPLE FRUITS

1. Achenial Dry, one seeded simple fruits that are indehiscent

2. Schizocarpic Dry, multisideed simple fruits which breaks at maturity

into one seeded indehiscent (mericarp) or dehiscent
(cocci) parts.

3. Baccate Simple fruits which may develop from a variety of

gynaecium.
Fleshy fruits and seeds embedded in pulp.

4. Capsular or Dehiscent fruits develop from Monocarpellary or

Dehiscent Fruits multicarpellary syncarpous gynaecia
 SIMPLE FRUITS-1
Achenial Caryopsis Fruit develops from Superior ovary and has a dry
(Dry, indehiscent, papery seed coat fused with the pericarp. E.g
one seeded sunflowers, dandelions and buckwheat
simple fruits)
Cypsela Fruit develops from Inferior ovary and has a dry
papery seed coat fused with the pericarp. members
of the grass family which include important food
crops such as rice, corn and wheat
Nut Fruit has a woody and hard pericarp.
Walnuts and pecans
Samara Pericarp is winged
Winged Samara fruits are characteristic of elms,
maples and ashes.

Caryopsis
 SIMPLE FRUITS-2
Lomentum Deeply constricted transversely into one seeded
Schizocarpic parts which breaks up at maturity.

Dry, Cremocarp Fruit develops from bicarpellary, syncarpous

multisideed gynaecium with inferior ovary.
simple fruits At maturity cremocarp breaks up into two mericarps
which breaks which separate away from column the cremocarp from
at maturity base upward but remaining attached near the tip pf
into one carpophore
seeded
indehiscent
(mericarp) or Carceulus Schizocarp develops from multicarpellary,
dehiscent gynaecium with superior ovary.
(cocci) parts. No carpophore is present.
 SIMPLE FRUITS-3
Baccate Berry Thin membranous pericarp, Entire
pericarp is fleshy, although skin is
Simple fruits which sometimes tough
may develop from a Seeds may be one or many seeded
variety of gynaecium. embedded in pulp formed from either
Fleshy fruits and pericarp pr placenta
seeds embedded in E.g. grape, tomato, papaya,
pulp. pomegranate, persimmon, guava,
banana and avocado.
Fleshy Fruits: Most of
the ovary wall Pepo
(pericarp) is soft or Berry with a hard, thick rind; typical
fleshy at maturity. fruit of the gourd family
(Cucurbitaceae). E.g. watermelon,
cucumber, squash, cantelope and
pumpkin.
 SIMPLE FRUITS-3
Baccate Hespiridium Berry
with differentiated parts of pericarp
Simple fruits which may Thick, soft epicarp
develop from a variety of Fibrous mesocarp
gynaecium. Membranous endocarp
Fleshy fruits and seeds Endocarp bears pulpy hairs which fill
embedded in pulp. up the loculi and seeds remain
embedded in it.
Fleshy Fruits: Most of the Berry with a leathery rind and
ovary wall (pericarp) is parchment-like partitions between
soft or fleshy at maturity. sections; typical fruit of the citrus
family (Rutaceae). E.g. orange, lemon,
grapefruit, tangelo and kumquat.

Drupe Berry
with differentiated parts of pericarp
Thin epicarp
Thick pulpy mesocarp
Stony endocarp
Fleshy fruit with hard inner layer
(endocarp or stone) surrounding the
 SIMPLE FRUITS-4
Capsular or Pome Ovary or core surrounded by edible, fleshy
Dehiscent Fruits receptacle tissue (hypanthium or fleshy
Dehiscent fruits floral tube) that is really not part of the
develop pericarp. The actual ovary or core is
fMonocarpellary or usually not eaten, at least by most humans.
multicarpellary This is typical fruit of certain members of
syncarpous the rose family (Rosaceae), including apple,
gynaecia pear, quince and loquat

Legume
An elongate "bean pod" splitting along two
seams;
typical fruit of the third largest plant family, the
legume family (Leguminosae or Fabaceae).
The pod represents one folded modified leaf or
carpel that is fused along the edges.
Silique: A slender, dry, dehiscent fruit.
that superficially resemble a legume,
except the mustard silique is composed of
two carpels with a partition or septum
 SIMPLE FRUITS-4
Dehiscent Fruits (Capsular Fruits)
• Depending on the mode of dehiscence, these fruits can be divided into the following five
classes:
1. Legume or Pod:
• Legume develops from a superior, monocarpellary, unilocular ovary. At maturity, the fruit dehisces
along both the sutures i.e. ventral as well as dorsal. It is characteristic of family Leguminosae (Pea,
Gram etc).

2. Follicle:
• It is similar to legume but it dehisces only along the ventral suture, e.g. Larkspur, Calatropis, Michelia,
Vinca.

3. Siliqua:
• Siliqua develops from a bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior ovary which is unilocular but becomes
bilocular due to a false septum called replum. It is an elongated fruit in which dehiscence occurs along
both the sutures from base to apex and the seeds attached to the replum get exposed. Example-
Brassica (Mustard).

4. Silicula:
• A short and flattened siliqua is called silicula. It is almost as broad as long. Examples: Iberis amara
(Candytuft), Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd’s purse).

5. Capsule:
• It is a simple dry many seeded dehiscent fruit developing from a multi-carpellary syncarpous ovary.
 Simple fruits
• Another classification for simple fruits
FLESHY AND DRY
A. Fleshy Fruits:
Most of the ovary wall (pericarp) is soft or fleshy at maturity.

B. Dry Fruits:
Pericarp dry at
maturity.
Dehiscent Dry Fruits: Pericarp splits
open along definite seams.
 Fleshy Fruits
Fleshy fruits are those that are
soft, juicy or meaty
 Types of Fleshy Fruits:

Berry
Pepo
Hesperidium
Pome
Drupe
 I. Simple Fruits: A single ripened ovary from a single flower.
A. Fleshy Fruits: Most of the ovary wall (pericarp) is soft or fleshy at maturity.

Berry: Entire pericarp is fleshy,

although skin is sometimes tough;
may be one or many seeded. E.g.
grape, tomato, papaya, pomegranate,
persimmon, guava, banana and avocado.

Pepo: Berry with a hard, thick rind;

typical fruit of the gourd family
(Cucurbitaceae). E.g. watermelon,
cucumber, squash, cantelope and
pumpkin.
Hesperidium: Berry with a leathery rind
and parchment-like partitions between
sections; typical fruit of the citrus
family (Rutaceae). E.g. orange, lemon,
grapefruit, tangelo and kumquat.
A. BERRY: 1 or more seeds, thin skin, can be peeled off

Ex. Blueberry, cranberry, grapes, eggplant, peppers, tomato

NOTE: Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry are NOT
true berries!!!!
They originate from more than 1 pistil.
B. PEPO: a berry with a hard rind that can’t be peeled off

Ex. Pumpkin, squash,

cantaloupe, melon, cucumber,
gourds
C. Hesperidium: berry with a leathery
skin, containing oils and rind

Ex. Orange, tangerine, lime, lemon

Drupe: Fleshy fruit with hard inner layer (endocarp or
stone) surrounding the seed. E.g. peach, plum,
nectarine, apricot, cherry, olive, mango and almond.

Some botanists also include the fruits of walnuts, date

palms, nuts as drupes because of their outer, green,
fleshy husk and stony, seed-bearing endocarp.
These latter fruits are also called drupaceous nuts.

Pome: Ovary or core surrounded by edible, fleshy

receptacle tissue (hypanthium or fleshy floral tube) that is
really not part of the pericarp. The actual ovary or core is
usually not eaten, at least by most humans.
This is typical fruit of certain members of the rose
family (Rosaceae), including apple, pear, quince and
loquat.
 DRUPE:
single seed enclosed in a hard pit

Ex. Peach, apricot, plum, cherry

 POME:
(False Fruit)Fleshy part is from the receptacle; true
ovary is the core

Ex. Apple and Pear

 Dry Fruits: Pericarp dry at maturity.
Dehiscent Dry Fruits: Pericarp splits open along definite seams.

a. Legume: An elongate "bean pod" splitting

along two seams; typical fruit of the third
largest plant family, the legume family
(Leguminosae or Fabaceae). The pod
represents one folded modified leaf or
carpel that is fused along the edges.
b. Silique: A slender, dry, dehiscent fruit that
superficially resemble a legume, except the
mustard silique is composed of two carpels
with a partition or septum down the center
(i.e. between the two carpels or valves).
This is the typical fruit of the mustard family
(Cruciferae or Brassicaceae). E.g. field
mustard, turnip and cabbage (Brassica
species).
Capsule:
Seed pod splits open is various ways
and usually along several definite
seams.
Capsules typically split open into well-
defined sections or carpels which
represent modified leaves.
This is a very common dry fruit found in
many different plant families.

E.g. Eucalyptus, floss silk tree (Chorisia),

castor bean (Ricinus communis).

Capsules may split open along the locules

(loculicidal), along the septa (septicidal),
through pores (poricidal), or the entire top
of the capsule separates as a single lid-like
section (circumscissile).

The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) produces a classic poricidal capsule in which
the tiny seeds fall out of the pore-like windows as the capsule shakes in the wind.
Follicle:

A single ripened ovary (representing a

single modified leaf or carpel) that splits
open along one seam.

The follicle may occur singly (as in

milkweed) or in clusters: two in
oleander, 2-5 in peony, 3 in larkspur, 5
in columbine and 4-5 in bottle tree
(Sterculia or Brachychiton).

The cone-like fruit of the magnolia tree

is an aggregate of many small follicles,
each containing a single bright red
seed.
 Indehiscent Dry Fruits:
Pericarp does not split open.
These fruits usually contain only one seed.

Achene:
Very small, one-seeded fruit, usually
produced in clusters.

At maturity the pericarp is dry and free

from the internal seed, except at the
placental attachment

This is the typical fruit of the largest plant

family, the sunflower family
(Compositae or Asteraceae).

Examples of this type of fruit include the

sunflower (Helianthus)
 Grain or Caryopsis:
A very small, dry, one-seeded, indehiscent fruit in which the actual seed coat is
completely fused to the ovary wall or pericarp.
The outer pericarp layer or husk is referred to as the bran, while the inner, seed
layer is called the germ.
This is the characteristic fruit of the large grass family (Gramineae or Poaceae).
The grain is truly a fruit (not a seed) because it came from a separate ripened
ovary within the grass inflorescence.
This is the number one source of food for people on the earth. E.g. Corn (maize),
wheat, rice, rye, barley, oats, Johnson grass, Bermuda grass and many more
species.
Schizocarp:
A small dry fruit composed of two or more sections that
break apart; however, each section or carpel (also
called a mericarp) remains indehiscent and contains a
single seed.
Malvaceae
Because the seed-bearing sections or carpels (called
mericarps) do not split open, this type of fruit is usually
placed under indehiscent dry fruits.

This is the characteristic fruit of the carrot family

(Umbelliferae or Apiaceae).

E.g. Carrot (Daucus), celery (Apium) and sweet

fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). mallow
 Samara:

Small, winged, one-seeded fruit, usually

produced in clusters on trees.
E.g. Maple (Acer): a double samara, ash
(Fraxinus), elm (Ulmus) and tree of heaven
(Ailanthus).

Samaras resemble the winged seeds of a

pine, but they are truly one-seeded fruits with
a pericarp layer surrounding the seed.
 Nut:
Larger, one-seeded fruit with very hard pericarp,
usually enclosed in a husk or cup-like involucre.

(1) Acorn of oak (Quercus) (2) Chestnut (Castanea).

(3) Hazelnut or filbert (Corylus) (4) Walnut (Juglans)

In true nuts, the hard, indehiscent layer surrounding the seed is the entire ovary wall or pericarp, and the
outer husk is composed of involucral tissue that is not part of the ovary wall or pericarp.

According to most botanical references, the outer green layer (husk) of the walnut is part of the pericarp and the
hard shell surrounding the seed is really the endocarp. Therefore, walnuts probably fit the dry drupe category
rather than a true nut.
 A. Dehiscent Fruits
• Split open when ripe
• 1. Follicle: milkweed

• 2. Legume: beans and peas

• 3. Capsule: poppies, snapdragon, lillies

 DRY FRUITS
• Wall of mature ovary is dry
• Fruit is without soft flesh
• Classified according to whether they split
open when ripe
B. Indehiscent Fruits
• Dry fruits that DO NOT split
open when ripe

1. Achene: sunflower,dandelion
 Indehiscent Fruits Cont.

2. Samara: maple, ash (winged fruits)

3. Grain: wheat, corn, barley, rye

 Indehiscent Cont.
4. Nut: acorn, hazelnut, hickory

• Many nuts are not nuts!!!

• Peanut=legume
• Walnut, pecan, coconut, almond=drupes
 AGGREGATE FRUITS

• Fruit formed from Multicarpellary

Apocarpous gynaecium
• Flowers with polycarpellary and apocarpous gynoecium
give rise to a number of fruitlets as there are a number of
free ovaries, each giving rise to one fruitlet.

• Sometimes, these fruitlets coalesce together appearing

to be a single fruit but in many other cases, the fruitlets
remain free from one another forming etaerio of fruitlets.

• An aggregate fruit is named according to the nature of

fruitlets.
 AGGREGATE FRUITS-1
1. Etaerio of achenes:
Aggregate of achenes

Here each fruitlet is an achene; and achenes are hairy.

In rose (Rosa), many achenes are present on a saucer (cup) –

shaped thalamus.

In strawberry [Fragaria), the thalamus is fleshy and becomes

red on maturation and is the edible part (Fig. 7.14).

2. Etaerio of follicles:
Etaerio of follicles can be seen in Aconitum, Catotropis,
Crypiostegia etc.

In Aconitum three fruitlets from each flower while two

fruitlets (follicles) develop from one flower in Calotroiis,
Cryptostegia and Michelia (Fig. 7.15).

3. Etaerio of samaras
It can be studied in Ailanthus where many winged samaras
develop from one flower.
 AGGREGATE FRUITS-2
4. Etaerio of berries:

In Artabotrys berries occur in a bunch. In Anona

squomosa (Custard apple) the berries become
very fleshy and being crowded together on a
thick thalamus form a complex single fruit.
The apices of berries fuse together forming
something like a common rind.

5. Etaerio of drupes
It is an aggregate of small drupes or drupelets
developing from different carpels of a flower, and
arranged collectively on fleshy thalamus, e.g.
Rubus idaeus.
 AGGREGATE Blackberry
FRUITS-3
A cluster or aggregation of many ripened
ovaries (fruits) produced from a single
flower.

In blackberries and raspberries (Rubus),

the individual fruits are tiny, one-seeded
drupes or drupelets.

Since all the seed-bearing ovaries (carpels)

form a fused cluster, the fruit is also called
a syncarp.

In strawberries (Fragaria), the individual

fruits are tiny, one-seeded achenes
imbedded in a sweet, fleshy receptacle.
 IV.Aggregate Fruits
• Formed from a single
flower with more than
one ovary
• Strawberry, raspberry,
blackberry
Strawberry: Aggregate
V.Multiple Fruits
• Forms from a cluster of flowers
• Ovaries fuse together to form 1 fruit
• Pineapple, osage orange, mulberry
Multiple Fruits:

A cluster of many ripened ovaries (fruits)

produced by the coalescence of many
flowers crowded together in the same
inflorescence, typically surrounding a fleshy
stem axis.

E.g. mulberry, osage orange, pineapple,

breadfruit and jackfruit. In the mulberry
(Morus), the individual fruits are tiny drupes
called drupelets.
Multiple Fruit

Mullberry
 COMPOSITE FRUITS

• Fruit formed from Infloroscence.

• A cluster of many ripened ovaries (fruits) produced by

the coalescence of many flowers crowded together in the
same inflorescence, typically surrounding a fleshy stem
axis.
E.g. mulberry, osage orange, pineapple, breadfruit and
jackfruit.

• In the mulberry (Morus), the individual fruits are tiny

drupes called drupelets.
Aggregate Accessory Fruit