CHAPTER XVII 
THE FRUIT 
209. Definition. —The fruit of a plant is the final result 
of the work of the flower. In its simplest form it is the 
ripened ovary and its contents including the seed or seeds. 
In some ‘cases, however, it involves accessory parts of the 
flower as well, especially the receptacle. The wall of the 
ovary in a fruit is called 
the pericarp. Peculiarities of 
the pericarp will be men¬ 
tioned in connection with 
different kinds of fruit. 
The fruit is of use to a 
plant in two ways, (1) in pro¬ 
tecting the seeds during their 
development, as in the bean, 
or during their period of 
dormancy as in the nut, and 
(2) in helping to distribute 
the seeds after they are matured, as in the dandelion. 
The fruit of most plants is the part that is of greatest use 
to man, furnishing him most of the necessaries in the way 
of food, and many of the luxuries. 
LABORATORY STUDY 
Study of an Orange. — Examine the stem end and note the remains 
of the calyx. How many sepals had the flower ? Remove it. How 
many dots do you see ? These represent the ends of the vascular bun¬ 
dles which supplied food to the growing fruit. Examine the opposite 
233 
Remains of Pistils 
Remains of Stamens 
Fleshy Wall 
of Receptacle 
Developing 
Seeds 
Figure 217. — Diagram of Fruit 
