CHAPTER XVII 



FRUIT STRUCTURE 



A Fruit is a ripened pistil containing the fertilized 

 ovules or seeds, together with modified structures 

 derived from almost any part of the flower with the 

 possible exceptions of stamens and stigma. The term 

 pericarp, as applied to fruits, includes all structures 

 excepting the seeds. The pericarp is divisible into 

 three layers, an exocarp (epicarp) or outer layer, a 

 mesocarp or middle layer and an endocarp or inner 

 layer. In closely related classes of fruits, these layers 

 present similar structural characters; but in different 

 classes of fruits the structural variations are very great. 

 It is impossible to cover all these variations by general 

 statements; therefore two important types of fruits 

 are considered in the following notes. It must be 

 borne in mind that even fruits of these classes 

 will show more or less variation from the structures 

 described. 



CREMOCARPS 



Fruits of the cremocarp class are characterized 

 by the fact that they separate at maturity into one- 

 seeded parts. The fruits of the Umbelliferse, which 

 include anise, fennel, caraway, coriander and angelica, 

 are termed cremocarps. In drug commerce these 

 fruits are known as seeds; but this is incorrect, as 



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