Fruit anatomy
Fruit Anatomy
Fruit anatomy is the study of the internal structure of fruit, which is a mature ovary of a flowering plant. The term is derived from the Latin word "fructus" meaning "fruit" and the Greek word "anatomia" meaning "dissection".
Pronunciation
Fruit: /fro͞ot/ Anatomy: /əˈnatəmē/
Etymology
The term "fruit" comes from the Latin "fructus" meaning "enjoyment," as in "fruits of labor". The term "anatomy" is derived from the Greek "anatomia," which means "dissection".
Structure
The basic structure of a fruit includes the pericarp, which is divided into three layers: the exocarp (outer layer), mesocarp (middle layer), and endocarp (inner layer). The pericarp encloses the seed or seeds.
Types of Fruits
Fruits can be classified into three main types: simple fruit, aggregate fruit, and multiple fruit. Simple fruits develop from a single ovary of a single flower, while aggregate fruits develop from multiple ovaries of a single flower. Multiple fruits develop from the ovaries of multiple flowers.
Related Terms
- Seed: The fertilized, matured ovule of a flowering plant, containing an embryo or rudimentary plant.
- Pericarp: The part of a fruit formed from the wall of the ripened ovary.
- Exocarp: The outermost layer of the pericarp of fruits.
- Mesocarp: The middle layer of the pericarp of a fruit.
- Endocarp: The innermost layer of the pericarp that surrounds a seed in a fruit.
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