Classification of Fruits: 3 Groups | Botany

In this article we will discuss about the classification of fruits:- 1. Simple Fruits 2. Aggregate Fruits 3. Multiple Fruits.

Group # 1. Simple Fruits:

Simple fruits may be dry or fleshy, according to the nature of the pericarp. Some dry fruits burst automatically to liberate the seeds. They are called dehiscent; others which do not dehisce are indehiscent fruits.

Dry indehiscent fruits are usually one-seeded. Following are the types:

(a) Achene is a dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit from a supe­rior simple pistil where the seed coat is separable from the peri­carp, e.g. Naraveha (B. Chagalbati, Fig. 113, 4).

(b) Caryopsis is just like an achene but the seed coat and pericarp are inseparably united, e.g. maize, grasses.

(c) Cypsela is a one-seeded fruit from an inferior bicarpellary pistil, as in sunflower (Fig. 113, 3).

(d) Nut is a one-seeded fruit from a superior bi- or polycarpellary pistil with tough and woody pericarp, e.g. chestnut.

(e) Samara is the same type of fruit with a pair of wing­ed outgrowths, e.g. Hiptage (B. Madhabilata), Dipterocarpus (B. Garian, Fig. 113, 5).

(f) Schizocarpic fruits are dry indehiscent ones from inferior bicarpellary pistil. After ripen­ing the two one-seeded parts separate and remain attached to an axis , coriander , anise (B. Mouri, fig .105)

Dry Dehiscent Fruits:

(a) Follicle is a dry dehiscent fruit from a monocarpellary pistil which dehisces by one suture only, along the ventral suture, e.g. Calotropis (B. Akanda, Fig. 106).

(b) Legume or Pod is a many-seeded fruit from a mono­carpellary pistil which dehisces by both the sutures, ventrally and dorsally, e.g. pea (Fig. 107), Crotolaria (B. Atasi). Legume is often constricted into one-seeded parts. It is called lomentum, e.g. Acacia (B. Babla).

(c) Siliqua is a dry dehis­cent many-seeded fruit from a superior bicarpellary pistil which dehisces from the base upwards. The seeds remain attached to a false partition wall called replum, e.g. radish, mustard (Fig. 108).

(d) Capsule is a dry many- chambered fruit from a polycarpellary pistil which dehisces by splitting into a number of parts, e.g. Datura, cotton, lady’s finger (Fig. 109).

Fleshy Fruits (Fig. 110):

Fleshy fruits have succulent or juicy pericarp. They are usually indehiscent. Seeds are set free after decomposition of the pulp.

(а) Drupe is a fleshy fruit with one or more seeds from a monocarpellary or polycarpellary syncarpous pistil where the pericarp is differentiated into outer epicarp, juicy mesocarp and stony endocarp, e.g. mango [Fig. 110 (A & B)], Indian plum, etc. Cocoanut is a fibrous drupe in which mesocarp is not juicy but fibrous.

(b) Berry or Bacca is a fleshy fruit, usually many-seeded, from a simple or compound pistil where stony endocarp is lacking and seeds remain freely in the pulp, e.g. tomato [Fig. 110 (C & D)], brinjal, banana.

(c) Pepo is a fleshy fruit like a berry from an inferior syncarpous pistil with parietal placentation. Seeds remain attached in series to the placentae. Pepo has usually a tough rind, e.g. gourd [Fig. 110 (E&F)].

(d) Pome is a false fleshy fruit from cyncarpous pistil sur­rounded by thalamus, which, in fact, forms the main edible part of the fruit, e.g. apple [Fig. 110 (G & H)], pear.

(e) Hesperidium is a many-chambered fruit from a syncarpous pistil where epicarp and mesocarp unite to form the separable rind. Many juicy hairs develop from the pericarp, which constitute the edible part of the fruit, e.g. orange [Fig. 110 (I & J)], lemons.

Group # 2. Aggregate Fruits:

We know that the aggregate fruits develop from polycarpellary apocarpous pistil. The aggregate or group of fruits from a single flower is known as an etaerio. They may be eiaerio of achenes, as in Naravelia (B. Chagalbati), etaerio of berries, as in Artabotrys (B. Kantali champa, Fig. 111).

Group # 3. Multiple Fruits:

Due to the stimulus of fertilisation often the whole of inflorescence develops into a single fruit. These types of fruits are multiple.

(a) Sorosis is a multiple fruit from an inflorescence spadix with fleshy axis, e.g. pine-apple (Fig. 112), jack fruit.

(b) Syconus develops from the special inflorescence, hypanthodium with fleshy hollow receptacle, e.g. fig.