Seed: Ovule and its Contents Testa (Seed Coat) = Ovule Wall Embryo, EndospermFruit: Ovary and anything attached to it Pericarp = Ovary Wall with three layers, Exocarp, Mesocarp, Endocarp Seed(s)

Fruits

septate

axial parietal

marginal axial parietal free central apical

marginal axial parietal free central

basal

Walters and Keil

Ovaries from Fused Carpels

nonseptate

3 Carpellate3 Loculate3 Septa

3 Carpellate1 Loculate0 Septa

A Taxonomy of Fruits

1a. From a Single Ovary 2a. Dry 3a. Indehiscent 4a. One Single-Ovuled Carpel 5a. Testa and Pericarp Not Fused Achene [Rosaceae]: Persistent Funiculus 4b. Two (Three) Single-Ovuled Fused Carpels, One Locule, One Seed 6a. Testa and Pericarp Not Fused 7a. Thin, Flexus Pericarp Cypsella [Asteraceae only]: Persistent Funiculus, Persistent Sepals. Often called an Achene. Sunflower Samara [Ulmaceae]: Winged Pericarp. Maple, Ash, Elm 7b. Thick, Hard Pericarp Nut [Fagaceae, Polygonacae]: Oak 6b. Testa and Pericarp Fused 8a. Thin, Flexus Pericarp Caryopsis [Poaceae]: Often called a Grain. Corn, Wheat 8b. Thick, Hard Pericarp Nutlet (First Sense) [Cyperaceae]

2a. Dry (Continued) 3b. Dehiscent 9a. Single Carpel, One-Many Seeded 10a. One Line of Dehiscence (One Valve) Follicle [Asclepiaceae]: Milkweed 10b. Two Lines of Dehiscence (Two Valves) Legume [Fabaceae only]: Peanut, Pea 9b. Several Fused Carpels, Many Seed Capsule: Okra, Poppy 9c. Two Fused, Many Seeded, Carpels with Modification Silique/Silicle [Brassicaceae only]: 2b. Fleshy 11a. Flesh from Pericarp 12a. Entire Pericarp Fleshy Berry: Tomato 12b. Thick Exocarp, Fleshy Mesocarp and Endocarp Pepo [Cucurbitaceae]: Cucumber, Pumpkin Hesperidium [Rutaceae]: Orange 12c. Hard or Leathery Endocarp Drupe: Cherry, Avocodo, Coconut

2b. Fleshy (Continued) 11b. Accessory Fruits 12a. Flesh from Hypanthium Pome [Rosaceae]: Apple, Pear 12b. Flesh from Receptacle (in Aggregate Fruits) Expansion of the Axis: Strawberry Envelopment by the Axis, Pseudocarp: Sweetshrub, Papaw 12d. Flesh from Sepals Mullberry (a Multiple Fruit) 11c. Flesh from Inflorescence Axis (in Multiple Fruits) Expansion of the Axis: Pineapple Envelopment by the Axis, Synconium: Fig1b. Several Transiently Fused Carpels Schizocarp: Single-Ovuled Carpels, Splitting apart at Maturity Nutlet (Second Sense): Two-Ovules per Carpel, Two Carpels, Each Ovule in its own compartment. [Lamiaceae, Verbenaceae]1c. From Several Unfused Carpels (Aggregate Fruits) Magnolia, Strawberry1d. From Several Flowers (Multiple Fruits) Pineapple, Ear of Corn

Single-Ovuled, Single Carpellate Ovary

Achene: Testa attached to Pericarp only via Persistent Funiculus

Utricle: An Achene with the Pericarp inflated away from the Testa Sometimes used to describe an inflated fruit of other types

Single-Seeded, Dry Fruits: Achene

Cypasella: Achene-like with Adnate Calyx (Pappus)

[Asteraceae Only: Sunflower]

Single Ovule per Carpel, Two Carpellate Ovary, One Ovule Develops

Single-Seeded, Dry Fruits: Achene-like

Samara: Achene-like with Winged Pericarp

[Ulmaceae: Elm, Maple, Ash]

Nut: Hard Pericarp[Fagaceae: Oak]

Involucre (bracts)

Single Ovule per Carpel, Two-Carpellate Ovary, One Ovule Develops

Single-Seeded, Dry Fruits: Achene-like

PericarpTesta

Endosperm

Embryo

Caryopsis or Grain, Testa completely Fused to Pericarp, both Thin[Poaceae Only: Corn, Wheat]

Single-Seeded, Dry Fruits: Caryopsis or Grain

Single Ovule per Carpel, Two-Carpellate Ovary, One Ovule Develops

Nutlet (First Sense), Testa completely Fused to the Pericarp;

Pericarp Thick[Cyperaceae]

Often used to describe small nut-like fruits

Dehiscent, Dry Fruits: Follicle

Multi-Ovuled (usually), Single Carpellate Ovary; Dispersal Unit is a Seed

Follicle: Single Carpellate, Dehiscing along One Suture[Asclepiaceae: Milkweed]

Dehiscent, Dry Fruits: Legume

Legume: Single Carpellate, Dehiscing along Two Sutures[Fabaceae Only: Peanut, Pea]

LomentTardily DehiscentAlong One Suture

Breaks intoSingle-SeededSegments

Multi-Ovuled (usually), Single Carpellate Ovary; Dispersal Unit is a Seed

Dehiscent, Dry Fruits: Capsule and Silicle/Silique

Multi-Seeded, Syncarpellate Ovaries; Dispersal Unit is a Seed

Capsules: Syncarpellate, dehiscing through, between, or above Carpels

SepticidalLoculicidal Poricidal

Denticidal

Circumscissile

Schizocarpic

Silicle Silique Along both sides of Partition (Replum) [Brassicaceae Only]

HesperidiumMesocarp and EndocarpExocarp Oily and a Rind[Rutaceae Only: Orange]

Fleshy FruitsFlesh from Various Tissues

Entire Pericarp

Hypanthium

Mesocarp and EndocarpExocarp a Rind

[Cucurbitaceae: Cucumber]

MesocarpEndocarp attachedto Seed = Pyrene,

Pit

Single Flower with Aggregate of Unfused Carpels on its Receptacle, orMultiple Flowers on a Spath-or Head-like Receptacle

Aggregate Fruits Multiple Fruits

FolliclesMagnolia

DrupeletsRaspberry

Achenes Strawberry

Achenes Rose

Achenes surrounded by Sepals Mulberry

Syconium Fig

Schizocarp: Single Ovule per Carpel, Fused Carpels that break apart at Maturity

Carpels usually called Mericarps; can be Achenes, Drupes, etc.

Samaroid Schizocarp(tardily separating)

Single Ovule per Carpel, Transiently Fused Carpels: Schizocarps

Nutlet: ‘Mericarp’ from a Two Ovule per Carpel, Two-Carpellate, Ovary Develops as 4 Transiently Fused Compartments

Not a true Schizocarp producing true Mericarps[Lamiaceae, Verbenaceae]

Nutlets often used to describe any small Nut-like Fruits

Sepals

Single Seeded Dry Fruits: Nutlet (Second Sense)

Rosales Rosaceae Rose FamilyMalus pumilla, Domesticated Apple

Fused Hypanthium; Fruit a Fleshy Pome

Rosales Rosaceae Rose Family

Malus pumilla, Domesticated Apple

5-Carpellate, 5 Loculate Ovary

Fleshy Hypanthium

Longitudinal Section Transverse Section

Persistent Sepals

Most Cultivars are Genetic Mosaics: Seed is wild-type and Flesh is Mutant.Propagated by grafting shoots onto wild-type rootstock.

Rosales Rosaceae Rose FamilyMalus pumilla, Domesticated Apple

Three tissue layers in plants: L-I epidermis; L-II subepidermal; L-III middle, centralThese rarely mix except in thin structures such as leaf blades

Both Hypanthium and Ovary each have their own L-I, L-II, and L-III

Ovary: L-II Gametophytes and thus Seed in the Apple Fruit (wildtype)

Hypanthium: L-I Color of Apple Fruit (mutant)L-II InsignificantL-III Flesh of Apple Fruit (mutant)

Rosales Rosaceae Rose Family

Malus pumilla, Domesticated Apple

John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed): 1774 - 1845

Missionary for his own religion; Sold seed and seedlings of cider apples throughout the Northwest Territory. Northwest Ordinance required a land-grantee to plant at least 50 apple or pear trees.These were not eating apples, but “sour enough to set a squirrel's

teeth on edge and make a jay scream” (Thoreau), used only for hard cider. Before refrigeration, store carbohydrate as alchohol. Carry Nation’s axe was for apple trees as

well as bar-rooms. Cider also declined because of Beer Industry by German immigrants.

Read Michael Pollan, The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-eye View of the WorldApples, Tulips, Marijuana and Potatos