From Flower to Fruit

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It is important to make the connection between flower structure and fruit structure.

In general, the mature Ovary(s) constitute the Fruit.

The Ovary Wall is called Pericarp (Around the Carpel) and consists of the same old tissues.

The Pericarp has three layers namely,
the Exocarp (Outer Layer of the Carpel),
the Mesocarp (Middle Layer) and
the Endocarp (Inner Layer)

The Exo- and Endocarps are essentially epidermal tissues like the adaxial and abaxial layers of a vegetative leaf.

Ah!!!! the Mesocarp resembles the Mesophyll!
See!!! I told you Plants are Simple!!!.

Some Carpels bear a striking resemblance to vegetative leaves and it is quite certain that all of the floral organs are modified leaves.

Fruit Types

Simple Fruits are those derived from a

Single Carpel or

Several United Carpels

Consequently, the Gynoecium contains One Entity

Aggregate Fruits are those in which there is

One Gynoecium that contains

Many Free Carpels

Each Carpel Produces a "Fruitlet"

Multiple Fruits are formed by the Combined Gynoecia of Many Flowers

Dehiscent Fruits Open to release their seeds.

Indihiscent Fruits don't open.

Fleshy Fruits are soft and moist at maturity.

Dry Fruits are dry at maturity.

This seems fairly simple. However, this designation depends on how ripe the fruits are. A fruit may appear fleshy early in its maturation, and be bone dry at its completion. We harvest many dry fruits early in their maturation because they are better to eat or easier to eat.

Accessory Fruits contain additional floral parts.

Fruits for All Seasons

A Legume (Pisum = Pea, Fabaceae)

Androecium =

10 Stamens
(9 Fused + 1 Free)

Gynoecium = 1 Carpel

LegumeFlowerDiagCarpel240Lab.jpg (92979 bytes)

Fruit = a Legume LegumeFruitDiag240Lab.jpg (54064 bytes) (Ah!! if only everything was this easy!!!)

Single Carpel

Dry

Dehiscent on two sides

A Prominent Exotic legume Erythrina sp.

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The Silique is very much like the Legume. It is a Simple, Dry, Dehiscent fruit which has Two Carpels & Two Lines of Dehiscence.

The seeds stay attached to a membranous septum which remains after the Pericarp has been shed.

This fruit type is common in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae).

Note the Two Stigmatic Lobes
Silique - Note that the Pericarp is Completely Dehiscent but a Septum between the two carpels remains attached to the Receptacle	Septum from the Gynoecium of the "Money Plant"

Follicle

A Follicle is a Simple, Dry, Dehiscent fruit that splits along One Side

The Gynoecium of Magnolia is composed of many small simple Carpels. This is similar to what we observed with Ranunculus which also produces Follicles

Each of these produces a dry dehiscent fruit which splits along one side. Each fruit releases a seed with a red fleshy outer integument.

The mature Gynoecium could be called an Aggregate Fruit if you consider all of the fruits present.


*Inside of a Magnolia* Flower showing the Gynoecium composed of many Free Carpels**	Magnolia Follicles - The seeds have a Fleshy Outer Integument

Many Plants in the Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) produce Follicles

AsclepiasFlrs240.jpg (24050 bytes)


Milkweed Fruits	Seeds released from Milkweed Follicle

Capsules are Simple, Dry, Dehiscent Fruits composed of Several Carpels which open by more that two Lines of Dehiscence.

Many members of the Malvaceae produce Capsules


Hollyhock Flower	Capsule Malvaceae- Note the Separate Locules

Cotton (Gossypium) is in the Malvaceae. Hawaiian cotton has been useful in cotton breeding.


Immature Cotton Fruit	Mature Capsules of Cotton - The cotton Fibers are outgrowths of the Seed Epidermis

Dry Indehiscent Fruits

An Achene is a dry indehiscent fruit of a simple carpel in which the seed is free except at its attachment (Funiculus)to the Ovary Wall. Very similar to the Cypsella below.

The Cypsella is similar to an achene except that it comes from an inferior Ovary. Members of the Asteraceae (Composites) have this type of Fruit.


Tragopogon (Asteraceae) - Inflorescence with Mature Fruits	Center of Tragopogon with Mature Fruits - The umbrella-like structures are formed by the Calyx which enlarges following Fertilization


Diagram of a Cypsella	Sunflower Fruits - Locate the Embryos

Nuts are very similar to Achenes except that they have a very stony Pericarp and come from a Syncarpous Gynoecium (more than 1 carpel)

	*Hazelnuts (Corylus)*

*Acorns from Oak (Quercus)*	*Beechnut (Fagus)*

A Shizocarp is also like an achene except that splits into two or more one-seeded fruits. Maple is an excellent example of this.


*Immature Maple (Acer) Fruits - The elongated structures are the Stigma & Style*	Mature Maple fruits - This will eventually separate into two one-seeded fruits

A Caryopsis is like an Achene except that the Ovary Wall (Pericarp) is fused with the Seed Coat (Integument). This is the fruit found in the grass family (Poaceae).


Diagram of a Caryopsis	Wheat Fruit

Fleshy Fruits

Berries are Simple fruits with a fleshy or leathery Pericarp

Many members of the Solanaceae (Tomato family) produce berries.


Tomato Ovary Long Section	Tomato Fruit

Deadly Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)	Bell Pepper (Capsicum sp.)

The Orange (Citrus) is considered to be a berry with a leathery Mesocarp. The juice cells are outgrowths of the Endocarp. It was called a Hespiridium at one time and you may see this term associated with it.

	Citrus Flowers

Citrus Flower - Long Section	Citrus Flower Cross Section


Citrus Gynoecium Cross Section	Orange Cross Section

The coconut (Cocos sp.) is considered to be a drupe with a fibrous Mesocarp and Exocarp

The Drupe is a fleshy fruit with a stony endocarp.


*Apricots (Prunus)*	*Peach (Prunus) a Drupe*

Georgia is the Peach State. It is the home of the Giant Peach and the Big Chicken. The Giant Peach is an extremely large water tower on the border with S. Carolina. It is a major Tourist attraction and is a splendid example of American culture. It has a strong resemblance to certain parts of the human torso. This may account for its popularity. The official drink of the Peach Grower's Society of America is one part cold canned peaches and one part chilled rum. Blend well and relax!! Perhaps that is really what's inside the Giant Peach!!! The Big Chicken is the first Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Rubus is a member of the Rosaceae. Its gynoecium consists of many free carpels. These form "Druplets" when they mature. The entire fruit is an example of an Aggregate Fruit as it is one gynoecium.


Rubus Flower	*Long Section of a Rubus* Bud**

Rubus Gynoecium	Rubus Fruitlets

The Strawberry (Frageria) is another member of the Rosaceae. It also has a gynoecium with many free, simple carpels. Each of these becomes an Achene. The "Fruit" is actually an enlarged Receptacle. This is an Accessory Fruit because the Receptacle is not part of the Gynoecium.



*Strawberry Bud - Long Section - This looks like Rubus.*	*Yellow Achenes on the surface of the enlarged Receptacle of Fragaria.*

Multiple Fruits

Fruit consists of the combined Gyonecia of Many Flowers

Noni (Morinda citrifolia)


Noni Flowers - Note the close spacing of the Flowers on the Receptacle


Noni Immature Fruits	Noni Mature Fruit

Ginger (Zingiber sp.)

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Ginger Inflorescence

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Ginger Fruit - Note the many Individual Fruits

**Pineapple (Ananas sp.)**

Inflorescence -> Many Flowers -> One "Fruit"

Receptacle = Part of "Fruit" -> Accessory Fruit as well!!!


Pineapple Plant with Renewed Shoot Growth	Young pineapple Inflorescence. Each Unit is a Flower


Mature Pineapple Fruit - Each Unit is from an Individual Flower	Ripe Pineapple Fruit - Note the central Axis which is the Receptacle

PineappleVascularSyst320.jpg (34718 bytes)

Vascular System in Pineapple

Other Examples Moraceae

BreadFruit & Jackfruit

**Mulberry (Morus)**

**Fig (Ficus)**


Ficus (Fig)	*Mulberry (Morus* sp.)**

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Jackfruit - Each Protrusion is a Fruit