80 



PLANTS AND MAN 



the fleshy portion of the fruit. In other cases, the seeds, safe within 

 their seed coats, are seldom harmed by a temporary sojourn in 

 the animals' s alimentary canal. 



The commonest type of fleshy fruit is known as a berry, which 

 botanically consists of seeds (or a seed) surrounded by a pre- 

 dominantly fleshy wall (fig. 53). In the date fruit, the berry is 

 one-seeded. In the grape, there are several seeds. In the tomato 

 the numbers of seeds may run into the hundreds. The banana is a 

 berry with the minute seeds forming specks along the longitudinal 



SEED 



B 



Fig. 54. — In the drupe fruit the outer portion remains soft and fleshy while 

 the inner portion becomes hard and forms a pit or stone, as in the peach (A) and 

 the plum (B). 



axis. In some modified berry fruits, a portion of the outer ovary 

 wall becomes thickened to form a rind, as in the citrus fruits. 

 The DRUPE (fig. 54) is another type of fruit; in this case only the 

 outer wall remains fleshy, while the inner part of the ovary be- 

 comes hard and stony. This kind of fruit is typical of the cherries, 

 olives, peaches, and plums. Other types of fruits will be discussed 

 in the chapters on fruits used as food. 



With the dispersal of the apple seed, the final step in the 

 reproductive cycle of the apple tree is completed (fig. 55). The 

 embryo sporophyte, having been dormant thru the winter, is 

 awakened into renewed activity as the environment produces 

 favorable temperature and moisture conditions. Germination 



