Fruit Definition

A single ovary of a monocarpellary or syncarpous gynoecium of a single flower, with or without accessory components, produces these fruits. The simple fruit is divided into two types based on the characteristics of the pericarp: dry fruits and fleshy fruits.

Dry Fruit: When these fruits reach maturity, the pericarp becomes dry, thin, thick, leathery, hard, or papery. It is impossible to separate it into layers. These are further split into,

• When these fruits reach maturity, they dehisce or split open.
• Fruits that are indehiscent do not split open when they reach maturity.

a) Dehiscent Dry Fruits

Legume:

• This is a basic dry, dehiscent fruit with one chamber and numerous seeds.
• It arises from a monocarpellary, top, unilocular uterus with two placement lines that alternate. Through the spinal and ventral muscles, the legumes are pulled. Peas, for example.

Follicle:

• This is a basic dry, dehiscent fruit with one chamber and numerous seeds.
• It is present in the superior, monocarpellary, unilocular ovary.
• It does, however, dehisce by only one suture; particularly ventral. Delphinium, for example.

Capsule:

• This is a simple dry, dehiscent, unilocular or multilocular fruit with numerous seeds.
• It is derived from the superior ovary, which is multicarpellary.
• All dehiscent fruits produced from the syncarpous ovary are referred to as capsules. Cotton, Lady’s finger, Datura, Papaver, and Eucalyptus are just a few examples.

b) Indehiscent Dry Fruits

Achene:

• This is a single-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with no seeds.
• It is derived from a superior monocarpellary ovary.
• This fruit’s pericarp is devoid of a seed coat.
• Pericarp can be leathery or firm. Mirabilis, for example.

Cypsela:

• This is a one-seeded fruit that is plain, dry, indehiscent, and unilocular.
• It’s made up of the carpellary, syncarpous, and inferior ovaries.
• The fruit’s pericarp is firm and free of the seed covering.
• A persistent calyx cap with scales or hairs clings to the fruit. Sunflower and Tridax, for example.

Caryopsis:

• This is a single-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with no seeds.
• It is derived from a superior monocarpellary ovary.
• This fruit’s pericarp collided with the seed coat. e.g. Maize, Wheat

Fleshy Fruits

The fruit wall, or pericarp, is big and meaty in these fruits. They don’t decompose. After the pericarp decomposes or animals consume it, the seeds are released.

Drupe:

• This is a basic fruit that is fleshy and indehiscent.
• It originates from the superior ovary and monocarpellary or syncarpous ovary.
• The epicarp (outside skin), mesocarp (fleshy/fibrous flesh), and hard and rocky endocarp make up the pericarp. As a result, drupe is also known as stone fruit.
• Drupes are usually single-seeded. Mango, for example, or coconut.

Berry:

• A simple, delicious, indehiscent fruit with a large number of seeds.
• It develops properly with the axil or parietal Placentation from the upper syncarpous uterus. The outer layer epicarp creates the fruit’s skin, while the mesocarp and endocarp fuse together to form the fruit’s pulp. Tomatoes with brinjal, for example.

Hesperidium:

• This is a simple, fleshy, indehiscent fruit with numerous seeds.
• A syncarpous, superior ovary with axil placentation is the most common source.
• The endocarp extends inwards, producing separate chambers, and the endocarp’s unicellular, juicy, glandular hairs extend into the chambers. The loose or tight skin (rind) of the fruit is formed by the epicarp and mesocarp fused together.
• The epicarp has a large number of oil glands, such as those seen in oranges and lemons.