Fruits Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is the definition of a fruit?
A plant organ derived from a fertilized ovary (gynaecium)
Fruits protect and nourish seeds.
What are the main functions of fruits?
Protect and nourish seeds
The pericarp of fruits shows two scars (one at the base and another at the apical side).
What are the classifications of fruits?
Fruits can be classified as:
* True Fruit
* False Fruit
* Composite Fruit
* Simple Fruits
* Aggregate Fruits
Each classification has distinct characteristics.
What is a true fruit?
A fruit formed from the gynaecium of a single flower alone
True fruits do not involve other floral parts.
What is a false fruit?
A fruit formed when other parts of the flower take part in its formation
Examples include apples and pears.
What is a composite fruit?
A fruit formed from the whole inflorescence and not from a single flower
This includes structures like strobiles and sorosis.
What is a simple fruit?
A fruit formed of one carpel or syncarpous ovary
Simple fruits can be either dry or fleshy.
What is an aggregate fruit?
A fruit formed from an apocarpous gynaecium of a single flower
An example is the star anise.
What are dry dehiscent fruits?
Fruits that split when ripe to release seeds
Types include follicle, legume, capsule, and silique.
What is a follicle?
A fruit formed from one carpel which dehisces by the ventral suture only
Example: black pea.
What is a legume?
A monocarpellary fruit that splits along both dorsal and ventral sutures
Example: senna pods.
What is a capsule in terms of fruit classification?
A fruit derived from a syncarpous ovary that dehisces by various methods
Methods include septicidal, loculicidal, poricidal, or by lid.
What is a silique?
A fruit from two carpels with a false septum that splits to expose seeds
Example: mustards.
What are indehiscent fruits?
Dry fruits that do not split when ripe and are typically one-seeded
Types include achene, caryopsis, cypsela, and samara.
What is an achene?
A one-seeded fruit formed of one carpel with a free pericarp
The pericarp can be membranous or leathery.
What is a caryopsis?
An achene where the pericarp and testa are fused
Example: wheat.
What is a samara?
A winged, one-seeded fruit formed from one or more carpels
The wings develop from the pericarp.
What is a nut?
A one-seeded fruit that is bigger than an achene, with a hard woody or leathery pericarp
Examples include chestnut and hazel.
What are schizocarpic fruits?
Fruits that become dry and split into one-seeded indehiscent parts called mericarps
Cremocarp is a familiar type.
What is a cremocarp?
A fruit formed of two carpels that splits longitudinally into two one-seeded mericarps
Examples include anise and fennel.
What are succulent fruits?
Fruits where part or most of the pericarp is fleshy and typically indehiscent
Examples include drupes and berries.
What is a drupe?
A fruit with a leathery epicarp, fleshy mesocarp, and hard endocarp enclosing a single seed
Example: olive.
What is a berry?
A fruit where the pericarp is entirely fleshy and usually many-seeded
Example: capsicum.
What is a pepo?
A special type of berry with a hard or leathery epicarp
Examples include colocynth and banana.
