FRUITS

I.

TYPES OF FRUITS:
A. According to composition and origin:
a. Simple fruit - a fruit that results from the ripening of a single ovary.

b. Compound fruit - a fruit that results from the ripening of a single ovary.
TYPES OF COMPOUND FRUITS:
A fruit that
develops from
several ovaries
c.
that belong to a
single flower and
Aggregate
becomes crowded
fruit
into a mass. These
are joined
together by a
common
receptacle.

Multiple or
collective
fruit

A fruit that is
derived from the
ovaries of several
flowers that unite
into a mass.

Example : cone - a multiple fruit consisting of overlapping appressed

Scales, each scale bearing one or two seeds on its surface.
Accessory fruit - fruit that develops from other parts of the flower other than the ovary.

Example: pome - a fruit in which most part develops from the receptacle.
B. According to texture and dehiscence:
a. Fleshy fruits - a general term to refer to fruits where all or most of the pericarp is
soft and fleshy at maturity.

berry

A fruit where the

entire pericarp
become fleshy

hesperidium

A berry with a
leathery rind

pepo

A unilocular berry
with a hard rind that
develops from an
inferior ovary,

drupe or
stone fruit

A type of fruit where

the exocarp is thin,
the mesocarp is
thick and fleshy,
and the endocarp is
hard and stony.

b. Dry Fruits - fruits in which the entire pericarp becomes dry often brittle or hard at
maturity.
DEHISCENT DRY FRUITS - fruits that split open along definite points at maturity
thus releasing the seeds.

capsule

A fruit that is derived from

two or more united carpels
and splitting in various
ways.

legume or
pod

A dehiscent fruit derived

from a single carpel and
splits open along 2 seams
or sutures.

Follicle

silique

An elongated, two-locular
fruit with two parietal
placentae, and usually with
two valves separating from
the persistent placentae
and septum as in
Brassicaceae

INDEHISCENT DRY FRUITS - dry fruits that do not split open along definite
sutures at maturity. These fruits usually contain one or two seeds.

achene

A small, unilocular, one-seeded

fruit, the seed is attached to the
ovary wall at a single point.

acorn

The hard, dry indehiscent fruit

of oaks having a single, large
Seed and a cup-like base.

bur

A fruit with often hooked or

barbed spines or appendages

caryop
sis or
grain

A seed-like fruit resembling an

achene but having the seed
coat firmly united with the
ovary wall.

nut

A one-seeded fruit that

resembles an achene, but
larger. It has long shell, with
much-thickened, hard pericarp

samara

A winged achene.

schizoc
arp

A dry fruit that splits along oneseeded camels or parts.

utricle

A one-seeded fruit with a thin,

bladdery and inflated wall. This
type of fruit is characteristic of
amaranthaceae.