Fruit.
Parts.—Seed, the part containing the embryo.
Pericarp, the covering of the seeds, including the ovary and all adnate parts. The parts of the pericarp are epicarp, or outer coat; mesocarp, or middle coat; and endocarp, or inner coat.
Dehiscence.—Septicīdal, opening of the partitions.
Loculicīdal, opening at the dorsal suture.
Septífragal, valves falling away from partitions.
Circumscissile, opening by a circular horizontal line.
Kinds.—Simple, aggregate, accessory, multiple.
(1.) Simple Fruits.—Fleshy, Stone, Dry (formed by a single pistil).
(a.) Fleshy Fruits.—Indehiscent (with two or more seeds).
Seeds immersed
in a pulpy mass. - Berry, rind membranous (Grape).
Hesperidium, rind leathery, separable (Orange).
Pēpo, rind hard (Cucumber).
Seeds in cells.—Pome, succulent calyx (Apple).
(b.) Stone Fruits.—Indehiscent; one-celled; endocarp hard.
Drupe, three-coated; stone-cell entire (Peach).
Tryma, two-coated; stone-cell two-parted (Walnut).
Etærio, an aggregation of drupes (Raspberry).
(c.) Dry Fruits.—Indehiscent, usually one seed with one coat.
Achēnium, coat separable from seed (Dandelion).
Utricle, coat inflated (Goosefoot).
Caryópsis, coat inseparable (Wheat).
Glans, invested with a cūpule, (Acorn).
Samāra, having winged appendages (Maple).
(c1.) Dry Fruits.—Dehiscent.
| Single pistil. | - | Follicle, opening by a ventral suture (Columbine). | |
| Legūme, opening by both sutures (Bean). | |||
| Loment, jointed legume (Desmodium). | |||
| Compound pistil. | - | Capsule, any compound dehiscent fruit. | |
| Sílique, a two-valved capsule (Mustard). | |||
| Sílicle, a short silique (Shepherd’s Purse). |
Pyxis, circumscissile dehiscence (Purslane).
(2.) Aggregate Fruits,. A cluster of carpels on one receptacle taken as a whole (Raspberry).
(3.) Accessory or Anthocarpous Fruits.—Those of which the most conspicuous portion, although appearing like a pericarp in some cases, does not belong to the pistil (Rose-hip).
(4.) Multiple or Collective Fruits.—Those which result from the aggregation of several flowers into one mass (Pine-apple, Mulberry).
Stróbile or Cone, a scaly multiple fruit, resulting from the ripening of some kinds of catkins (Hop, Conifers).
Gálbalus, a closed cone (Juniper-berry, Red Cedar).