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
(Splitting along the locule)
Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)
Septicidal
(Splitting along the septum)
Calico Flower (Aristolochia littoralis)
Simple-Dry-Dehiscent-Capsule
Poricidal
(Splitting along the terminal pore)
Opium (Papaver somniferum)
Circumscissile
(Splitting along a circular horizontal line)
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