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| Simple Fruits |
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| The fruit which develops from the syncarpous ovary of a flower with or without accessory parts is called a simple fruit. In simple fruit, the pericarp may be fleshy and juicy or it may be hard and dry. The former are called fleshy fruits and the latter dry fruits. |
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| Drupe |
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| It is a simple fleshy fruit enclosing one or more seeds. The pericarp is differentiated into outer epicarp, the middle fleshy or sometimes fibrous mesocarp and inner hard and stony endocarp. E.g. Mango, Coconut. |
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| Berry |
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| It is a simple fleshy fruit and generally many seeded. The pericarp has an outer thin epicarp and an inner fleshy mesocarp. E.g. Tomato, Brinjal, Grape. |
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| fig. 27.69: Grape |
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| Pepo |
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| It is a simple fleshy fruit and generally many-seeded. It develops from an inferior, monolocular ovary, having parietal placentation. E.g. Cucumber, Watermelon. |
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| Pome |
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| It is a simple fleshy, false fruit. It develops from a syncarpous inferior ovary having axile placentation. After fertilization, the thalamus becomes fleshy and edible. But the actual fruit lies within. E.g. Apple. |
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| Hesperidium |
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| It is a simple fleshy fruit. It develops from a syncarpous inferior ovary having axile placentation. The pericarp is differentiated into outer thick, leathery epicarp having a number of oil glands, the middle white, spongy mesocarp closely attached to the inner side of the epicarp and the inner membranous endocarp projecting inwards forming distinct chambers. From the inner wall of the endocarp grow out numerous, thick, swollen hairs containing a syrupy juice. They are edible. e. g. Orange, Lemon. |
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| Dry dehiscent fruits |
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| In dry fruits, at maturity the pericarp may split or break open to liberate the seeds. Such fruits are called dry dehiscent fruits. Some of the common types of simple fruits are as follows: |
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| a. Legume or pod |
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| It is a simple, dry, dehiscent fruit developing from the monocarpellary, monolocular ovary having marginal placentation. At maturity, the pericarp splits along both the margins (sutures) to liberate seeds. e.g. Pea, Bean. |
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| b. Follicle |
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| It is a simple, dry, dehiscent fruit developing from the monolocular ovary having marginal placentation. The pericarp dehisces along only the ventral suture~ to liberate seeds. e. g. Calotropis, Asclepias, Michelia. |
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| fig. 27.70: Asclepias |
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| c. Siliqua |
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| It is a simple, dry, dehiscent fruit developing from the bicarpellary, monolocular ovary having two parietal placentae. The ovary is monolocular in the beginning but becomes bilocular due to the development of a false septum called replum. The pericarp dehisces into two halves from below upwards. The seeds remain attached to the central replum. e.g. Mustard, Radish. But a short, broad and fat siliqua is called silicula, e.g., Capsella, Lepidium. |
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| d. Capsule |
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| It is a simple, dry, dehiscent fruit developing from the syncarpous ovary having axile placentation. The capsules are variously named according to their mode of dehiscence. |
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| Loculicidal capsule |
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| Here, the pericarp dehisces longitudinally along the middle of each loculus into as many valves as there are carpels. e.g., Lady's finger, Cotton |
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| Speticidal capsule |
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| Here, the pericarp splits longitudinally along the Septa and hence the fruit is called septicidal capsule. All the carpels get separated from one another but still the seeds are exposed as in loculicidal capsule. e.g. Aristolochia. |
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| Septifragal capsule |
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| Here, the pericarp breaks away completely from the septa and further the dehiscence may be of septicidal or loculicidal type. e.g. Datura. |
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| These fruits do not dehisce but the seeds are released only after the decay of the pericarp. |
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| a. Achene |
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| It is simple, dry, indehiscent fruit developing from a superior monolocular ovary with a single ovule. The pericarp is dry, membranous and free from the seed coat. e.g. Mirabilis. |
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| b. Caryopsis |
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| It is a simple, dry, indehiscent fruit developing from monocarpellary ovary with a single ovule. The pericarp is fused with the seed coat. e.g. Maize, Rice, Wheat. |
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| c. Cypsela |
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| It is a simple, dry, indehiscent fruit developing from inferior, bicarpellary, syncarpous, monolocular ovary with a single ovule. The pericarp is thin and free from the seed coat, e.g. Helianthus. |
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| d. Samara |
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| It is a simple, dry indehiscent fruit. The pericarp produces wings to help in dispersal. e.g. Acer, Dipterocarpus. |
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| fig. 27.71:Dipterocarpus |
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| Here, the fruit dehisces into units called mericarps. Mericarps in turn split to release the seeds. |
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| a. Cremocarp |
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| It is a simple dry schizocarpic fruit developing from an inferior, syncarpous bilocular ovary. At maturity the fruit splits into two one seeded segments called mericarps. The two mericarps remain attached to a forked axis called carpophore. E.g. Coriander. |
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| b. Regma |
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| It is a simple, dry, schizocarpic fruit developing from superior ovary, having three to many carpels and three to many locules. At maturity it splits into as many parts as there are carpels. Each part encloses one or two seeds. E.g. Castor. |
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| c. Lomentum |
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| It is a simple, dry, schizocarpic fruit. The fruit is constricted or partitioned between seeds into a number of one-seeded compartments. The fruit breaks into one seeded indehiscent segments. E.g. : Mimosa pudica, Acacia. |
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