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Flowering plants can produce many different types of fruits, which correspond to the selection pressures that the taxa have experienced over evolutionarily time (e.g. animal dispersal, wind dispersal, etc.)
Kinds of Fruits
Kinds of Fruits
Fruit tissue can derive from many different parts of the plants. Most commonly, the fruit tissue derives from the ovary(s) of the flower. Sometimes, non-ovary tissue is co-opted to become fruit-like
Simple fruit
Simple fruit
A fruit that develops from a single (ovary) pistil of a single flower
Aggregate fruit
Aggregate fruit
A fruit that develops from many (ovaries) carpels of a single flower
e.g. strawberry (Fragaria), raspberry & blackberry (Rubus)
Multiple fruit
Multiple fruit
A fruit that develops from the pistils (ovaries) of many flowers, which fuse together during maturation
e.g., pineapple (Ananas comosus), fig (Ficus carica), osage-orange (Maclura pomifera), mulberry (Morus alba), sycamore (Planatus occidentalis)
Above: diagram showing the differences between a simple, aggregate, and multiple fruits
Accessory fruit
Accessory fruit
A fruit-like tissue (e.g. pulp) that is derived from non-ovary tissue, such as the hypanthium or receptacle
e.g. the pulp that we eat in a strawberry (Fragaria) is derived from the receptacle, not the ovary, therefore it is an accessory fruit. The "seeds" on the outside of the fruit are actually tiny fruits called achenes.
e.g. the part of the apple (Malus) that we eat is derived from the hypanthium, not the ovary, therefore it is considered an accessory fruit. The "core" of an apple is the ovary and technically the true fruit of an apple.
Above: image of an apple flower which forms an accessory fruit from the hypanthium.
Above: animation of a strawberry flower forming an accessory fruit from the receptacle.
Juicy or Pulpy Fruits
Juicy or Pulpy Fruits
There are several types of pulpy fruits based on the layers of the fruit (i.e. exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp)
Drupe
Drupe
A fruit with a juicy mesocarp and a hard endocarp, called the pit.
Endocarp has a single seed
e.g. Prunus (e.g., Almond, Apricot, Cherry, Nectarine, Peach, and Plum), Mango (Mangifera), Olive (Olea), Most palms (e.g. Dates, Coconut), and Pistachio (Pistacia)
Walnut (Juglans) and Hickory (Carya) are also drupes, but are sometimes considered "nut-like drupes" or a tryma.
Above: The drupe of peach (Prunus persica)
Left: The anatomy of the drupe of coconut (Cocos nucifera)
Berry
Berry
A fruit with a juicy/pulpy mesocarp with many seeds
n.b. many of the fruits called "berries" (e.g. raspberry, blackberry, strawberry) are not considered botanical berries
True berry
True berry
A berry with a thin skin (exocarp)
e.g. Tomato (Solanum), Grape (Vitis), Currants (Ribes), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Pepper (Capsicum annuum), Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
Hesperidium
Hesperidium
A berry with a thick, oily exocarp
e.g. Citrus family (Rutaceae), such as lemon, lime, grapefruit
Pepo
Pepo
A berry with thick exocarp; from an inferior ovary
e.g. Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), such as gourds, pumpkins, and squash
Above: Pepo fruits of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)
Above: A true berry of tomato (Solanum)
Above: A hesperidium fruits of the citrus family
Pome
Pome
A fruit with a thin exocarp, pulpy mesocarp, and a leathery or papery endocarp
Found in the Rose family (Rosaceae, subtribe Malinae): e.g. Apples (Malus), Pears (Pyrus), Cotoneaster, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Firethorn (Pyracantha), Quince (Chaenomeles)
Above: pome fruits of apple (Malus)
Dry, dehiscent fruits
Dry, dehiscent fruits
These fruits lack juicy pulp and split open at maturity
There are several dry dehiscent fruits
Capsules
Capsules
Siliques / silicles
Siliques / silicles
Follicles
Follicles
Legumes
Legumes
Capsule
Capsule
A dry fruit made from many carpels that opens by slits or pores
Septicidal
Septicidal
A capsule splits along junctions between carpels (i.e. along the septa) with the valves remaining in place.
Loculicidal
Loculicidal
A capsule splits along the midrib or dorsal suture of the locules
e.g. Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), Cotton (Gossypium), Horse-chestnut (Aesculus), Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), Lily (Lilium), Orchids, Poppy (Papaver), Willow (Salix)
Above: the "explosive" capsule of spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Silique and silicle
Silique and silicle
A subtype of capsule with a persistent septum that split along 2 sides
Mustard family (Brassicaceae): e.g., bittercress (Cardamine impatiens), honesty (Lunaria annua)
Silique
Silique
Fruit length being more than three times the width.
Silicle
Silicle
Fruit length is less than three times the width
Above: the siliques of bittercress (Cardamine impatiens)
Above: the silicles of money plant (Lunaria annua)
Follicle
Follicle
A dry fruit that splits along one side
e.g. Milkweed (Asclepias),
Follicles exist more commonly as aggregate fruits called a follicetum
e.g. Columbine (Aquilegia), Crassulaceae, Delphinium, Hellebore (Helleborus),Magnolia, Peony (Paeonia)
Above: Magnolia with an aggregate of follicles
Above: The open follicle of milkweed (Asclepias)
Legume
Legume
A dry fruit that splits along two sides
Legume family (Fabaceae): e.g., peanuts, beans, lentils, soybeans, peas, etc.
Above: The open legume of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Left: The immature legume of soybean (Glycine max)
Indehiscent, Dry Fruits
Indehiscent, Dry Fruits
These fruits lack juicy pulp and do not split open at maturity
There are several indehiscent fruits: achenes, samaras, schizocarps, nuts, and caryopses
Achene
Achene
a single-seed fruit with pericarp fused at base only
e.g. Sunflower (Helianthus) and Strawberry (Fragaria) have achenes
Samara
Samara
A winged achene is called a samara
e.g. Ash (Fraxinus), Elm (Ulmus), Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), Tulip tree (Liriodendron)
n.b. technically, maples fruits (Acer) are not samaras, but schizocarps because two seeds are connected and then split apart [see below]
Above: the samara fruits of an Ash (Fraxinus)
Above: the achene fruits on the outside of the "pulp" of strawberry (Fragaria). The pulp of the strawberry is accessory fruit formed from the receptacle. Since a strawberry has one flower with many ovaries, it is considered an aggregate fruit
Schizocarp
Schizocarp
A dry fruit composed of two or more sections that break apart
Each section or carpel (also called a mericarp) remains indehiscent and contains a single seed
e.g. Carrot (Daucus), Malva, Celery (Apium), Sweet fennel (Foeniculum)
n.b. Maple (Acer) is a winged (samaroid) schizocarp because two seeds are connected and then break apart.
Above: the schizocarps of a maple (Acer). These fruits are considered samaroid schizocarps
Left: Schizocarp of Apiaceae, showing mericarps splitting apart
Nut
Nut
One seeded dry fruit with a hard exocarp
The seed is not fused to the fruit wall
e.g. Acorn (Quercus), Chestnut (Castanea), hazelnuts (Corylus) and Macadamia have nuts
n.b. many fruits that are called "nuts" are not true nuts (e.g. peanuts, hickory "nuts", pecans, almonds, walnuts). Peanuts are legumes, and hickory, pecans, almonds, & walnuts are drupes.
Above: the nut of an oak (Quercus)
Left: the nut of chestnut (Castanea)
Caryopsis
Caryopsis
In this dry fruit the pericarp is fused to seed coat
The grass family has evolved to have very seed-like fruits; the seed and the fruit can no longer be separated
e.g. the Grass family (Poaceae), such as cereal grains and grasses
Above: Caryopsis fruits of both corn (Zea) and wheat (Triticum)
Left: Diagram of the anatomy of a caryopsis showing the fusion of the pericarp and the seed coat
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