Fruit Types and Characteristics |
Classification |
Examples |
Type |
Fleshy/ Dry |
Dehiscent/ Indehiscenf |
Comments |
Accessory |
Strawberry |
Accessory |
F |
— |
Develops from receptacle; ovaries are achenes on surface. |
Achene |
Dandelion, sunflower |
Simple |
D |
I |
Single locule with single seed; not especially hard. |
Aggregate |
Raspberry |
Aggregate |
F |
— |
Drupelets from several pistils on a single flower. |
Berry |
Grape, tomato |
Simple |
F |
— |
Not enclosed by a receptacle, many seeds, soft skin. |
Capsule |
Lily, poppy |
Simple |
D |
D |
Formed by two or more carpels not separated by a septum. |
Caryopsis (grain) |
Wheat, corn, other grains |
Simple |
D |
I |
Single seed fused to pericarp. |
Drupe |
Peach, plum, cherry |
Simple |
F |
— |
Larger fruit with single seed (stone). |
Drupelet |
Raspberry drupelet |
Simple on aggregate |
F |
I |
Small, single seeded; occurs as a segment of an aggregate fruit. |
Follicle |
Milkweed pod |
Simple |
D |
D |
Single carpel opening on one side. |
Hesperidium |
Orange, other citrus |
Simple |
F |
— |
Berry-shaped, with several seeds and a tough rind. |
Hip |
Rose hips |
Simple |
F/D |
— |
Enlarged hypanthium surrounding many achenes. |
Legume |
Bean, pea pod |
Simple |
D |
D |
Composed of one carpel with seeds. |
Loment |
Tick trefoil, sweet vetch |
Simple |
D |
I |
Legume but with individual seeds constricted by the pod. |
Multiple |
Pineapple, mulberry |
Multiple |
F |
— |
Formed by many flowers and ovaries on one receptacle. |
Nut, nutlet |
Acorn, hazelnut |
Simple |
D |
I |
Usually single seed inside a hard, woody pericarp. |
Pepo |
Melon, cucumber |
Pepo |
F |
— |
Not enclosed by receptacle; many seeds; tough rind. |
Pome |
Apple |
Simple |
F |
— |
Floral tube (core) containing multiple seeds, surrounded by fruit. |
Samara |
Maple, ash, elm fruits |
Simple |
D |
I |
Not splitting; winged. |
Schizocarp |
Carrot,
geranium
fruits |
Simple |
D |
I |
Fruit splitting but not releasing seeds. |
Silicle (silique) |
Mustard
(Brassicaceae) fruits |
Simple |
D |
D |
Two carpels separated by septum, less than twice longer than wide. |
Synconium |
Fig |
Multiple |
F |
|
From entire inflorescence (many flowers) with inverted receptacle bearing flowers internally; fruit formed of ripened ovaries (receptacle tissue). |
