Definition:

the fruit is the whole product of the development of the gynaecium as a result of fertilization. Sometimes other parts of the flower in addition to the gynaecium participate in the production of the fruit.

FruitsFruits

True FruitTrue Fruit False FruitFalse Fruit Composite FruitComposite Fruit

Simple FruitsSimple Fruits Aggregate FruitsAggregate Fruits

dry dehiscentdry dehiscent dry indehiscentdry indehiscent Dry SchizocarpicDry Schizocarpic SucculentSucculent

True fruit: fruit is formed from the gynaecium of a single flower alone.

false fruit: when other parts of the flower take part in its formation .

composite fruit :If the fruit is formed from the whole inflorescence and not from a single flower.

True Fruits

True fruits are either simple; formed from a single ovary e.g. Senna pods or aggregate formed from an apocarpus gynaecium e.g. star anise.

Simple Fruits

a- Simple dry dehiscent fruits:

These are where the pericarp becomes dry, this group includes:

i- Legume: fruit formed from one carpel which splits along both dorsal and ventral sutures as senna pods.

ii- Follicle: fruit formed from

one carpel which

dehisces by the inner

suture only.

iii- Capsule: fruit is derived from

a syncarpous ovary, it is

many seeded fruit e.g. Papaver.

iv- Silique: fruit from two carpels

with a septum in-between, it

splits to expose seed along

central membrane (mustards) .

b- Simple dry indehiscent fruits

the pericarp becomes dry and do not split open when ripe. They include

the following types:

i- Achene: one-seeded fruit

formed of one carpel, the

pericarp is free from the testa.

ii- Caryopsis or grain: it is an

achene in which the pericarp and

testa are fused together as wheat.

iii- Nut: similar to achene but usually bigger, formed

of two or three carpels. The nut has a hard and

woody or leathery pericarp.

iv- samara: it is winged, one seeded fruit

formed of one carpel or of more carpels.

The wings are membranous

development from the pericarp.

C- Simple dry schizocarpic or splitting fruits

The pericarp becomes dry, they are two to many seeded they split up into a number of one-seeded indehiscent parts called mericarps. They include several types but the most familiar type is cremocarp.

Cremocarp: formed of two carpels, the

ovary is inferior and bilocular, the cremocarp splits longitudinally between the two locules into two one-seeded mericarps as in Umbelliferae e.g. anise,

Fennel…,

d- Simple succulent fruits

i- Drupe: the fruit derived from one or more carpels. The ovary is superior or inferior unilocular, the epicarp is leathery the mesocarp is fleshy the endocarp is hard and enclosing a single seed as Olive.

ii- Berry: the fruit is formed from one or more carpels and the pericarp is entirely fleshy. It is usually many seeded as Orange, Lemon.

II- False Fruits

they are derived from mature ovary of a single flower accompanied by other parts of the same flower which on ripening become usually swollen and fleshy e.g. Apple.

III- Composite fruits

i- Strobile: derived from a scaly inflorescence named strobile, one or two achenial fruits are present in the axil of

each scale .