Fruits

 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 Exocarp Outermost layer of the fruit wall

Endocarp Innermost layer

Mesocarp Middle 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 4 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

Simple-Fleshy-Berry-Hespiridium Derived from a fleshy ovary enclosing several seeds. Has thick leathery skin containing oil.

Kalamansi (Citrus microcarpa)

Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata)

peel/exocarp flavedo/epicarp albedo/mesocarp

endocarp seed carpels sections with fluid-filled sacs called vesicles septum

Hespiridium Anatomy

Simple-Fleshy-Berry-Pepo Derived 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 Fleshy mesocarp and ovary. Seed enclosed within a stony endocarp (pit).

Peach (Prunus persica)

Mango (Mangifera Indica)

Fleshy Drupe Anatomy

endocarp

endocarp seed seed

Simple-Fleshy-Drupe-Fibrous Fibrous mesocarp and fleshy ovary. Seed enclosed within a stony endocarp (pit)

Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

Fibrous Drupe Anatomy

Simple-Fleshy-Pome Fleshy 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 Dry fruit derived from one carpel splitting along one seam

Kalachuchi (Plumeria rubra)

Star anise (Illicium verum)

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Legume/Pod Dry fruit derived from one carpel splitting along two seam

Chicharo (Pisum sativum)

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Silique Dry fruit derived from two or more carpel with persistent partition wall after splitting

Narrowleaf bittercress (Cardamine impatiens)

Bluepod Rockcress (Boechera glaucovalvula)

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Capsule Derived from two or more carpel splitting in one or four ways Loculicidal

Septicidal

(Splitting along the locule)

(Splitting along the septum)

Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)

Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis)

Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Capsule Poricidal

Circumscissile

(Splitting along the terminal pore)

(Splitting along a circular horizontal line)

Opium (Papaver somniferum)

Twinberry (Menodora scabra)

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 Seed inseparable from the fruit wall.

Rice (Oriza sativa)

Corn (Zea mays)

Rice Grain Anatomy

Corn Kernel Anatomy

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Samara/Key Seed separable from the fruit wall. Fruit with wings

Mahogany (Shorea negrosensis)

Narra (Pterocarpus indicus)

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Nut Fruit without wings and with very hard fruit wall. Has only one seed.

Pili nut (Canarium ovatum)

Cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale)

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Achene Seed without wings and with thin fruit wall. One seed attached to ovary wall at one point.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)

Simple-Dry-Indehiscent-Schizocarp Seed 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 Many ovaries derived from a single flower

Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)

Compound-Multiple/Collective From several ovaries of several flowers of a compact inflorescence

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Seed Dispersal

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

Why is dispersal important?  Avoid competition with parent and siblings  Colonize new habitats  Avoid pathogens and predators  Minimize inbreeding

Methods of dispersal are often tied to certain habitats  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