Finals: Fruit Formation & Classification

Botany

Fruits

• flowering plants develop from ovaries

• contain seeds

Carrots, Beets, Sweet potatoes

Modified roots (storage roots) 

Lettuce, Kale, and Cabbage

 leaves

Flowers produce…

…fruits and seeds 

Fruits Found in

angiosperms 

Fruit Forms

sepals, petals, stamens

Fruits Develop

•  after fertilization

• when ovules are developing

Fruit Function

1. Protection of Seeds

2. Dispersal of Seeds

Protection of Seeds

• Fruits enclose

• shield seeds from damage, drying, and predators.

Dispersal of Seeds

Fruits spread seeds via:

• Wind

• Water

• Animals

Animal-influenced Dispersal

primary function of fruits

Hard Fruits

• Provide long-term seed protection

• Often require time, water, and favorable

• conditions to germinate 

• Advantageous in harsh environments

Drift Fruits

• Adapted for long-distance water dispersal

• Combine seed protection with mobility

Fruits evolved

maximize seed survival and dispersal

 Categorize Fruits

1. Fusion of Carpels

2. Fruit Texture

Fusion of Carpels

• Simple fruits

• Aggregate fruits

• Multiple fruits 

Fleshy fruit

• depend on animal consumption

• help disperse the seeds

Dry fruit

•  pericarp is hard, dry, and thinly developed. 

• three layers (exocarp,mesocarp, and endocarp) present

Simple fruit

matures from one ovary in one flower

Aggregate fruit

matures from multiple ovaries of a single flower

Multiple fruit

• matures from multiple ovaries of multiple florets

• in inflorescence 

Pericarp

fruit wall, develops from the ovary wall after fertilization

Exocarp

outer layer; often the peel or skin in fleshy fruits

Mesocarp

middle layer; typically the fleshy part

Endocarp

inner layer; may be hard (like a pit) or soft, depending on the fruit

Berry

 simple, fleshy fruit produced from one pistil

Hesperidium

modified berry with a leathery pericarp

Pepo

modified berry with a hard rind

Drupes

•  fleshy fruit with thin skin

• central stone containing seed

Pome

fleshy fruit consists outer fleshy layer and a central core (w/ multiple seeds)

Dehiscent

pericarp splits open at maturity to facilitate seed dispersal

Indehiscent

pericarp does not split open at maturity

Legume 

- fruit breaks open along both sides

- contains multiple ovules with marginal placentation 

Grain

 seed coat is completely fused with the pericarp 

Samara

winged fruit pericarp forms a wing-like structure (wind dispersal)

Nut

entire pericarp becomes hard and woody at maturity (sclereid cells)