Fruit Structure and Classification

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Questions and Answers

What is the outermost layer of a fruit often called?

Exocarp

What is the middle layer of a fruit called?

Mesocarp

What is the name of the innermost layer of a fruit?

Endocarp

What type of fruits develop from a single matured ovary in a single flower?

Simple fruits Signup and view all the answers

What are fruits called when the pericarp is fleshy at maturity?

Fleshy fruits Signup and view all the answers

What type of fruit is a grape classified as?

Berry Signup and view all the answers

What is a pepo?

A berry with a hard rind Signup and view all the answers

Which type of berry has a leathery rind?

Hesperidium Signup and view all the answers

What defines a drupe?

A stone fruit derived from a single carpel Signup and view all the answers

What is a pome?

An accessory fruit derived from several carpels Signup and view all the answers

What type of fruit is a rose hip?

Hip Signup and view all the answers

What type of fruits are dry at maturity and meant to be dispersed?

Dry fruits Signup and view all the answers

What are dehiscent fruits?

Fruits that split open when mature Signup and view all the answers

What type of fruit is composed of one carpel and splits along a single suture?

Follicle Signup and view all the answers

What defines a legume?

A fruit composed of one carpel splitting along two sutures Signup and view all the answers

What is a capsule in terms of fruit classification?

A fruit composed of several carpels Signup and view all the answers

What defines a silique?

Composed of two carpels separating at maturity Signup and view all the answers

What are indehiscent fruits?

Fruits that do not split at maturity Signup and view all the answers

What is an achene?

A one-seeded fruit with the seed attached at one point Signup and view all the answers

What type of fruit is a grain?

Caryopsis Signup and view all the answers

What is a samara?

A one- or two-seeded fruit with a wing-like outgrowth Signup and view all the answers

What is a schizocarp?

A fruit consisting of two carpels that separate at maturity Signup and view all the answers

What is a loment?

Composed of several seeds that break into segments at maturity Signup and view all the answers

What is a nut in terms of fruit classification?

A hard, one-seeded fruit Signup and view all the answers

What are aggregate fruits?

Fruits formed from several matured ovaries in a single flower Signup and view all the answers

What are multiple fruits?

Fruits formed from the matured ovaries of several flowers Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fruit Structure

Exocarp: Outermost layer, often consists of the epidermis.
Mesocarp: Middle layer of the fruit, thickness varies among species.
Endocarp: Innermost layer, shows considerable variation between different species.

Fruit Classification

Simple Fruits: Develop from a single matured ovary in one flower; may include accessory parts.
Accessory Fruits: Include additional flower parts fused with the ovary, differing from simple fruits.

Types of Fruits

Fleshy Fruits: Pericarp is fleshy at maturity.
Berry: Fleshy fruit from one or more carpels containing seeds, e.g., grape.
Pepo: A berry with a hard rind, partially or completely enclosing the ovary; example includes cucumber.
Hesperidium: A specialized berry with a leathery rind, typically from the citrus family.
Drupe (Stone Fruit): Derived from a single carpel, usually containing one seed; examples include cherries and avocados.
Pome: Accessory fruit with multiple carpels and a core, where the ovary fuses with other flower parts; a classic example is the apple.
Hip: An accessory fruit containing several separate carpels within a fleshy or semi-fleshy receptacle; e.g., rose hip.
Dry Fruits: Pericarp is dry at maturity, designed for dispersion when dried; examples include green beans and peas.

Fruit Characteristics

Dehiscent Fruits: Split open at maturity, allowing seed dispersal.
Follicle: Comprised of one carpel, splits along a single suture.
Legume: Also one carpel but splits along two sutures.
Capsule: Composed of multiple carpels, opening in various ways at maturity (septicidal, loculicidal, poricidal, circumscissile).
Silique: Composed of two carpels that separate at maturity, retaining a persistent partition.

Indehiscent Fruits

Indehiscent Fruits: Do not split at maturity.
Achene (or Akene): One-seeded fruit attached at one point only to the fruit body.
Caryopsis (Grain): One-seeded fruit where the seed is firmly attached to the fruit at all points.
Samara: One- or two-seeded fruit featuring a wing-like outgrowth.
Schizocarp: Two carpels that separate into one-seeded halves, remaining indehiscent.
Loment: Contains multiple seeds, breaking into one-seeded segments at maturity.
Nut: Hard, one-seeded fruit typically formed from a compound ovary, with a hard pericarp throughout.

Complex Fruit Types

Aggregate Fruits: Comprised of multiple matured ovaries from a single flower, appearing as fruitlets; e.g., blackberry.
Multiple Fruits: Formed from the matured ovaries of several flowers, resulting in a united mass, nearly always accessory fruits.

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Description

Explore the fascinating structures and classifications of fruits in this quiz. From the layers of pericarp to different types of fruits like berries and drupes, test your understanding of botany concepts. This quiz will enhance your knowledge of fruit-related terms and classifications.