O fruit that we see in some plants originates from the development of the flower's ovary and is the main responsible for the success of many plants. One fruit consists of two main parts: o pericarp, which divides into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp; and the seed, which is found inside the fruit.
O epicarp it is the outermost part of the fruit and corresponds to the skin. O mesocarp it is the middle part of the fruit and corresponds to the edible part. O endocarp it is the innermost part of the fruit and corresponds to the part that protects the seeds.
Image showing pericarp division
You fruits can be classified into fleshy fruit and dry fruits.
You fleshy fruit are those that have juicy pericarp. They are classified into berry or drupa. You fleshy berry-like fruit have free seeds, that is, they are dispersed in the mesocarp, being easily separated from the fruit. Some examples of fleshy berry-like fruits are: watermelon, guava, cucumber, grape, orange, lemon, tomato, among many others.
In the image we can see that the seeds are free inside the fruit
You drupe-type fleshy fruits they have a single seed in the endocarp and usually the endocarp is hard and thick. Some examples of drupe-type fleshy fruits are: avocado, peach, plum, mango, olive, between others.
You dry fruits they have their pericarp dry and some can open spontaneously when the seeds are ripe. Some examples of nuts are the Brazil nuts, beans, peas, soybeans, sunflowers, rice, corn, between others.
Dried fruits have a non-juicy pericarp
By Paula Louredo
Graduated in Biology
