CHAPTER XV. 

 FRUITS 



A FRUIT consists essentially of one or more ripened ovaries, 

 frequently with other parts of the flower. Fruit develop- 

 ment begins when the egg cell and endosperm nucleus are 

 fertilized and ends at about the time the seed is full grown. 

 The chief function of the fruit is to form, protect, nourish 

 and distribute the seed. 



Parts of a Fruit. The fruit is composed of the pericarp 

 and the seed. The pericarp, which normally consists of the 

 ovarian walls, is divisible into the exocarp or outer layer, 

 the mesocarp or middle layers, and the endocarp or inner 

 layer. If the exocarp is a thin, skinlike covering it is called 

 the epicarp-, if the mesocarp is fleshy it is known as the 

 sarcocarp-, if the endocarp is hard and bony, as in the cherry 

 and peach, it is called a putamen. 



Classification of Fruits. It is necessary to classify fruits 

 in order to know them. 



Fruits are first grouped into indehiscent, partially dehis- 

 cent and dehiscent fruits. 



An indehiscent fruit is one that does not open to discharge 

 its seed. 



A partially dehiscent fruit is one that splits up into parts, 

 each part containing a seed. 



A dehiscent fruit is one that opens to discharge its seed. 



The Indehiscent Fruits are divided into simple and acces- 

 sory fruits. 



