Types Of Fruits

Fruits are divided into Fleshy Fruits, and Dry Fruits.

Fleshy Fruits can be subdivided again into those formed from a single flower and those
formed from a group of flowers. They can have one seed or several seeds in.

Fleshy Fruits formed from a single flower are classified as: Berry, Drupe, Aggregation of
Drupes, Pome, Hesperidium. Some authorities also give these separate status: Hep,
Pseudocarp, Pepo.

Fleshy Fruits which grow from a group of flowers are: Sorosis, Synconium, Coenocarpium.

Dry Fruits can be divided into those in which the seeds are contained in a seedpod of some
sort which opens to release the seeds (called Dehiscent), and those in which there isn't a
seedpod which opens (Indehiscent).

Dry Dehiscent Fruits are Follicle, Legume, Silique, Capsule. Some authorities separate these
further.

Dry Indehiscent Fruits are: Achene, Nut, Samara, Caryopsis. Some people sub-divide some
of these further. There are also Schizocarpic Fruits.

Knowing the type of fruit a plant has might help you to identify it, and might also help you to
know when the seeds are ready to harvest.

FLESHY FRUITS
formed from a single flower
Berry

A Berry is a single fleshy fruit without a stone, usually containing a

number of seeds.

This is a Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia chinensis). Other fruits of this type

are: Banana (Musa), Coffee (Coffea arabica), Currant (Ribes),
Tommato Pasionfruit (Passiflora), Pepper (Capsicum), Tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentus).

Drupe

A Drupe is a single fleshy fruit with a hard stone which contains

the single seed.

This is a Cherry (Prunus avium). Other fruits of this type are:

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca), Plum (Prunus x domestica), Coconut
(Cocos nucifera), Olive (Olea europaea), Peach (Prunus persica),
Sloe (Prunus spinosa).
 Aggregation of Drupes

An Aggregation of Drupes is a fleshy fruit, made up of many

drupes but formed from a single flower, each drupe containing one
seed.

This is a Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). Other fruits of this type are:

Loganberry (Rubus), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus).

Pome

A Pome is a fleshy fruit with a thin skin, not formed from the ovary
but from another part of the plant. These are sometimes called
Accessory Fruits. The seeds are contained in chambers in the
centre of the fruit.

This is an Apple (Malus domestica). Other fruits of this type are:

Firethorn (Pyracantha), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Medlar (Mespilus
germanica), Pear (Pyrus communis), Quince (Cydonia oblonga).

Hesperidium

A Hesperidium is a berry with a tough, aromatic rind.

This is an Orange (Citrus sinensis). Other fruits of this type are all
Citrus fruits: Citron (Citrus medica), Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi),
Kumquat (Fortunella), Lemon (Citrus limon), Lime (Citrus
aurantifolia).

There are other types of fleshy fruit which some people classify separately. A Hep or Hip is a fleshy
fruit containing achenes, as in the Rose (Rosa); a Pepo is a fleshy fruit with a leathery skin, formed
from an inferior ovary. This type of fruit is found only in members of the Gourd Family
(Cucurbitaceae) - Cucumbers (Cucumis melo), Water Melon (Citrullus lanatus), Pumpkin (Cucurbita
maxima), and Pseudocarp.

Pseudocarp

A Pseudocarp is a false fruit, because it does not contain the seeds.

The seeds are achenes, on the outside of a fleshy fruit.

This is a Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa).

FLESHY FRUITS
formed from a group of flowers
There are a few fruits formed from a group of flowers (inflorescence) rather than just one, but which
form only one fruit. These are Sorosis, as in the Mulberry (Morus), Syngonium, as in the Fig (Ficus),
and Coenocarpium, as in the Pineapple (Ananas).

DRY DEHISCENT FRUITS

Follicle

A Follicle is a dry dehiscent fruit which splits on one side only. It

may contain one or many seeds.

This is the fruit of a Columbine (Aquilegia). Other fruits of this

type are: Delphinium (Delphinium), Larkspur (Consolida), Love in
a Mist (Nigella damascena), Milkweed (Asclepias), Peony
(Paeonia).

Legume

A Legume is a dry dehiscent pod that splits on two sides.

This is the fruit of a Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus). Other fruits of

this type are all in members of the Pea Family
(Leguminosae/Fabaceae): Acacia (Acacia), Alfalfa (Medicago
sativa), Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Flamboyant (Delonix
regia), Pea (Pisum sativa), Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), Redbud
(Cercis occidentalis), Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus),
Wisteria (Wisteria).

Lomentum

A Lomentum is a dry dehiscent fruit, a legume constricted between

the seeds.

This is the fruit of a Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum anagyroides).

Other fruits of this type are: Sophora (Sophora), Tick Trefoil
(Desmodium).

Silique

A Silique is a dry dehiscent fruit. It is long and thin, splits down the
two long sides, and has a papery membrane (the septum) between
the two halves.

This is the fruit of a Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri). Other fruits of

this type are all in members of the Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae):
Aubrieta (Aubrieta x cultorum), Cabbage (Brassica olearacea),
Honesty (Lunaria annua), Radish (Raphanus sativus).

A silique which is less than twice as long as broad is called a

Silicula.
Capsule

A Capsule is the most common fruit type. A Capsule is a dry fruit

which splits open to release the seeds.

These plants all have fruit capsules: Cotton (Gossypium),

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus
hippocastanum), Jimson Weed (Datura), Mahogany (Afzelia),
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis).

There are several types of Capsule, depending on how the fruit

splits.

Valvate Capsule

A Valvate Capsule is a dry dehiscent fruit in which the tips of the

seed capsule split.

This is the fruit of a Campion (Silene). Other fruits of this type are:
Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium), Pink (Dianthus), Primrose
(Primula).
Porose Capsule(by pores)

A Porose Capsule is a dry dehiscent fruit, opening with pores or

holes around the top.

This is the fruit of a Poppy (Papaver). Other fruits of this type are:
Blue Poppy (Meconopsis), Prickly Poppy (Argemone).

Loculicidal Capsule

A Loculicidal Capsule is a dry dehiscent fruit, splitting along the

locule (midrib of each ovary).

This is the fruit of Stinking Gladwyn (Iris foetidissima). Other

fruits of this type: Evening Primrose (Oenothera), Valotta
(Cyrtanthus elatus), and members of the Violet and Lily Families.
Circumscissile Capsule

A Circumscissile Capsule is a dry dehiscent fruit, opening by

splitting through the centre of the fruit, so that the top of the
capsule lifts off like a lid. An example of this type of fruit is
Pimpernel (Anagallis)

A Septicidal Capsule splits along the septa (joints of the ovary) as

in the Foxglove (Digitalis).

DRY INDEHISCENT FRUITS

Achene

An Achene is a single-seeded dry indehiscent fruit in which the

seedcoat is not part of the fruit coat.

This is the fruit of a Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Other fruits of

this type are: Buttercup (Ranunculus), Clematis (Clematis),
Coreopsis (Coreopsis), Dahlia (Dahlia), English Marigold
(Calendula), Zinnia (Zinnia).

Cypsela

A Cypsela is a single-seeded dry indehiscent fruit that develops

 from a one part inferior ovary (on the stalk side of the flower).
They are sometimes included with Achenes.

This is the fruit of a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Other fruits

of this type are found in the same plant family, the Daisy Family
(Asteraceae).

Nut

A Nut is a large single hardened achene.

This is a Chestnut (Castanea sativa). Other fruits of this type are:

Acorn (Quercus), Hazel (Corylus avellana), Hickory (Carya).
T.S

Nutlet

This is not a classification that seems to be recognised everywhere,

but the Mint Family (Lamiaceae) is a very large plant family, and
has a particular type of seed which is not quite any of the normal
ones, so I thought it should be included somewhere.

The fruits of this family are single-seeded achene-like nutlets,

4 nut let which are held at the bottom of the calyx.

This is the fruit of a Salvia (Salvia). All members of the Mint

Family (Lamiaceae) have this type of fruit.

Caryopsis

A Caryopsis is a simple dry indehiscent fruit, like an achene, but

with the seedcoat fused with the fruit coat.

This is the fruit of Sweetcorn (Zea). Other fruits of this type are all
members of the Grass Family (Poaceae): Barley (Hordeum), Oats
(Avena), Rice (Oryza), Rye (Secale), Wheat (Triticum).

Samara

A Samara is an independent dry indehiscent fruit which has part of

the fruit wall extended to form a wing (i.e. not a winged seed inside
another type of seed pod).

This is the fruit of a Maple (Acer). This is a Schizocarpic Samara,

because the fruit splits into its separate Samaras. Other fruits of this
type are: Ash (Fraxinus) - also Schizocarpic, Elm (Ulmus).
Fig. 18. Fruit Types (seeds black). A–E, succulent indehiscent fruit: A, drupe, 1-seeded (in T.S.); B,
drupe, 5 seeded (in T.S.); C, pome (in L.S.); D, superior berry (in L.S.); E, inferior berry (in L.S.); F–
K, dry dehiscent fruits; F, many-seeded follicle; G, follicle with 2-winged seeds; H, schizocarp; I,
legume or pod; J, lomentum; K, siliqua; L–P, capsules: L, loculicidal capsule; M, septicidal capsule; N,
poricidal casule; O, circumsciss capsule; P, schizocarp capsule; Q–U, dry indehiscent fruits, with
sections showing position of seed: Q, achene from a superior ovary; R, achene from inferior ovary
with apical pappus; S, caryopsis; T, nut; U, samara; V–X, aggregate fruits in L.S.: V, rose ‘hip’,
individual fruits drupelets; W, strawberry, individual fruits achenes; X, blackberry, individual fruits
drupelets; Y & Z, multiple fruits in L.S.: Y, syconium or ‘fig’; Z, syncarp.