Dehiscent fruits
Fruit Types Dehiscent fruits Follicles are derived from a single carpel and open along a single side. Capsules are derived from a compound ovary containing multiple carpels. Capsule Siliques are derived from a two carpel ovary that splits into two valves separated by a persistent septum. Follicle Legumes are derived from a single carpel and usually opens along two sides. Silique Back to fruit types menu Legume A schizocarp is derived from a compound ovary where the carpels break apart into separate singleseeded units. Schizocarp Click on a fruit type for more information. Main menu Fruit Types Capsule A capsule is a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a single flower with multiple carpels. Dehiscence indicates that the capsule opens when mature to release the seeds. Capsules are a common fruit type and there are numerous different forms. Lilac (Syringa) Back to fruit types menu Poppy (Papavera) Next Lady-in-the –mist (Nigella) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Chelandine poppy (Stylophorum) Main menu Fruit Types Capsule Capsules are derived from a single compound ovary containing multiple carpels. Ovary with five carpels and locules Valve It is helpful to review the parts of an ovary to identify the tissues involved in fruit dehiscence. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Locule 1 They can contain several to many seeds and are categorized by the way they split (dehisce) to release the seeds in a variety of ways. Septum 5 Placenta 2 4 3 Back to dehiscent fruit menu Ovules (seeds) Ovary Main menu Fruit Types Capsule The major types of capsules based on their dehiscence patterns include: Septicidal – opening along the line separating the locules. Loculicidal – opening on a longitudinal line in the middle of the locule. Septifragal – septicidal or loculicidal fruits opening to leave a central column of seeds. Acrocidal – opens through slits at the tip of the capsule, while, Basicidal opens from the base. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Denticidal – a small opening at the top of the fruit from several short openings on the suture line. Poricidal – having multiple, small pore openings. Circumscissile (pyxis) – fruit opens along the circumference of the fruit forming a lid. Anomalicidal – this is a capsule that ruptures irregularly. Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Septicidal Septicidal capsules open along a dehiscence line at the septa between the locules. The septum is the tissue separating each locule. Septum Dehiscence follows along each septum Valve Dehiscence along the septa Locule Each segment shares a portion of the same septum Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Septicidal Below are several examples of septicidal capsules. Septum Septum Septum Seeds Rhododendron Yucca Back to fruit types menu Back Next Guaiacum Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Septicidal Dehiscence along the septa in yucca. Yucca Septum Seeds with septum removed Septum Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Septicidal Members of the Papaveraceae have septicidal capsules. The valves pull away leaving a portion of the septa (called the commissure) with the seeds attached. Septum Septum Chelandine poppy (Stylophorum) Back to fruit types menu Commissure Bloodroot (Sanguinaria) Back Next Commissure Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Loculicidal A loculicidal capsule opens on a longitudinal line through the middle of each locule (chamber) rather than along the septa that separates the locules. Septum Dehiscence line is through the valve away from each septum Valve Dehiscence through the valve Locule Each segment includes an individual septum Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Loculicidal Golden rain tree (Koelruteria) is a good example of a loculicidal capsule. It produces a three locule (carpel) fruit. Each flower has a compound ovary with three carpels (locules). The fruit is a papery, loculicidal capsule and has three carpels (locules), each with two seeds. The fruit separates into individual segments between the locules with two seeds per segment. Seeds on the septum Intact fruit Back to fruit types menu Back Next Valve Back to dehiscent fruit menu Septum Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Loculicidal Below are several examples of loculicidal capsule. Lily has three locules. Valve Septum Septum Crapemyrtle has six locules. Septum Valve Lily (Lilium) Back to fruit types menu Rose mallow (Hibiscus) Back Next Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Loculicidal The simplest loculicidal capsule has only two chambers (locules), and dehisces into two valves - as shown in lilac. Seeds Lilac (Syringa) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Loculicidal Loculicidal capsules represent the most common form of capsule dehiscence. Septum Century plant (Agave ) Back to fruit types menu Pansy (Viola) Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Loculicidal Several members of the Sapindaceae produce loculicidal capsules. Ungnadia Back to fruit types menu Majideae Harpullia Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Loculicidal Several members of the Bignoniaceae produce pod-like, loculicidal capsules containing winged seeds. Catalpa Back to fruit types menu Campsis Spathodea Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Septifragal In septifragal capsules, the capsule valves pull away from the central core of the septa exposing seeds attached to the septa column. Septum Dehiscence lines are between each septa Valve Only the valves pull away from each other Locule Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Septifragal Below are two examples of septifragal capsules. Septa column Capsule valves Seeds Hedychium Back to fruit types menu Back Next Blackberry lily (Belamcanda) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule – Acrocidal vs. Basicidal The beaked fruit of Princesstree (Paulownia) is an acrosicidal capsule that opens (dehisces) from the top of the capsule. Acrosicidal Back to fruit types menu Back Next The hanging fruit of Aristolochia is a basicidal capsule that opens (dehisces) from the base of the capsule. Basicidal Back to dehiscent fruit menu Pedicel attachment to the stem Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Denticidal In denticidal capsules, only the upper portion of the valves separate to form a small opening. The result is an opening in the capsule that looks like it is surrounded by little teeth (denti ). The valves open to less than 1/5th of the total length of the capsule. Seeds are released from the capsule as the fruit shakes in the wind. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Soapwort (Saponaria) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Poricidal Pores A poricidal capsule produces small dehischent pores as openings to release seeds. Each pore usually corresponds to a locule. In snapdragon, several irregular pores form at subterminal locations on the capsule. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Poricidal Poppy also has a poricidal capsule with a ring of pores surrounding the top of the fruit. It is referred to as an operculate poricidal capsule because of the recognizable cap (operculum) that covers the pores. Cap (Operculum) Seeds Pores Pores Poppy (Papavera) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Circumscissile Plantain has a circumscissile capsule (also called a pyxis). These types of capsules separate into two pieces along a horizontal, circular dehiscent line across the fruit. This produces a lid that pops off to release the seeds. Lid (Operculum) Seeds Plantain (Plantago) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Circumscissile Moss rose also has a circumscissile capsule. The circular lid pops off to release the seeds contained within the capsule’s base. Moss rose (Portulaca) Capsule base Lid (Operculum) Lid off Lid Back to fruit types menu Seeds Back Next Seeds Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Circumscissile The fruit in amaranth is a circumscissile capsule that is sometimes also referred to as an utricle because the fruit has a papery, inflated covering with persistent flower tissue attached (anthrocarp). Lid Lid Lid beginning to separate Seed Flower tissue Amaranth (Amaranthus) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Flower tissue Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Circumscissile Celosia also produces a dehiscent utricle with a circumscissile lid. The ovary consists of 2-3 fused carpels and a single locule usually producing a single seed. Single seed in papery fruit. Lid Papery flower parts around the base. Seed Celosia (Celosia) Back to fruit types menu Back Next The lid of this fruit has already fallen off. Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Circumscissile Twinleaf is also considered to have a circumscissile capsule even though the lid does not completely separate from the capsule and the fruit is derived from a single rather than multiple carpels. Lid Lid Lid Seeds Suture line Twinleaf (Jeffersonia) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule - Anomalicidal An anomalicidal capsule dehisces irregularly and is sometimes called a rupturing capsule. Brugmansia Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Capsule – Indehiscent capsule ? Pepper fruit does not fit neatly into the capsule category. It comes from a single flower and syncarpous ovary, but it does not dehisce at maturity. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a berry and botanists list it as an indehiscent capsule. More recent treatments put it into its own fruit type as a carcerulus. Capsicum Several united carpels Back to fruit types menu Back Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Follicle A follicle is a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along one side of the fruit. Six closed follicles Five open follicles Suture line Peony (Paeonia) Back to fruit types menu Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Follicle Follicles can appear similar to types of capsules, but each fruit in the cluster is derived from a single carpel. A follicle illustrates why it is thought that a carpel may have evolved from a single folded modified leaf. Delphinium (Delphinium) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Columbine (Aquilegia) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Follicle Milkweed (Asclepias) produces a large, single follicle with many seeds topped with tufts of hairs. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Follicle Technically, when the fruit consists on a single, separate carpel, it is a follicle. When the fruit becomes an aggregate of follicles, it is termed a follicetum. Follicetum Follicle Five follicles Sterculia Brachychiton Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Follicle Lenten rose and winter aconite produce aggregates of follicles as a follicetum. Winter aconite (Eranthis) Lenten rose (Helloboris) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Follicle Tabernaemontanus species produce paired follicles with the aril-covered seeds attached along the suture line. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Follicle Although not as readily recognizable as a follicetum, Magnolia produces an aggregate of dehiscent follicles. The red fleshy part of the seed is not fruit tissue, but is an aril derived from the seed. Follicle opening Follicle open Follicle Back to fruit types menu Back Aril covered seed Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Legume A legume is a dry, dehiscent pod that usually opens along two sides. It is derived from a single carpel and is characteristic of the legume family (Fabaceae). Each seed is attached to one edge of the pod wall by a seed stalk (funiculus). Funiculus Seed Pod wall Hyacinth bean (Dolichos ) Back to fruit types menu Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Legume A legume is similar to a follicle as it is derived from a single carpel. However, in a legume the fruit usually dehisces (opens) along two suture lines to release the seeds while a follicle opens along only one edge. False indigo (Baptisia) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Senna (Senna) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Legume The legume family is a large family with a large diversity of fruit sizes and shapes. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Legume A loment is a specialized legume pod with constrictions between each seed. These segments may separate into individual units when mature. Tick-trefoil (Desmodium) pods break into segments that have small attachment hooks that aid in animal dispersal. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Pods in Sophora do not detach into segments and dehisce along the suture line. Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Legume - Camaras There are legume pods that differ from the classic definition of a legume because they are indehiscent and do not split at maturity. Indehiscent legume pods are referred to as camaras. Tamarind (Tamarindus) Half of the pod removed to show the sweet, edible inner pulp. Peanut (Arachis) Back to fruit types menu Back Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Silique and Silicle A silique is a dry, dehiscent fruit that develops from two carpels and opens along two suture lines exposing the seeds attached to a papery septum and placenta (replum). Siliques are much longer than they are wide and occur in the crucifer family (Brassicaceae). Replum Dehisced fruit Seeds Intact fruit Turnip (Brassica) Back to fruit types menu Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Silique and Silicle A silicle is similar to a silique, but it is less than twice as long as it is wide. It also occurs in the crucifer family (Brassicaceae). Intact fruit Dehisced fruit Replum Septum (replum) Seeds Alyssum (Alyssum) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Silique and Silicle Some crucifer fruits can be attractive and the plants are grown as ornamentals. Fibigia Back to fruit types menu Back Honesty or money plant (Lunaria) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Schizocarps A schizocarp develops from a compound ovary where the carpels break apart into separate single-seeded fruit units usually called mericarps or monocarps. Technically, a monocarp comes from a single carpel and mericarp from a split carpel. Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus) The simplest schizocarps have two fused carpels that separate into two monocarps. Back to fruit types menu Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Schizocarps Maple (Acer) produces a simple schizocarp composed of paired samaras that separate for wind dissemination. Each flower forms paired samaras Back to fruit types menu Back Next Maple (Acer) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Schizocarps Some members of the Malpighiaceae also produce schizocarps with winged fruits. Mascagnia Back to fruit types menu Heteropterys Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Schizocarps Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum) produces a schizocarp where each fruitlet is a follicle that opens to expose a shiny black seed. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Schizocarps Hollyhock (Alcea) forms a schizocarp with many single-seeded achene-like fruitlets attached to a central core. Schizocarp Monocarps Developing schizocarp Back to fruit types menu Hollyhock (Althea) Back Next Hollyhock (Althea) Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Schizocarps In the mint family (Lamiaceae), the ovary consists of two carpels that split apart to form four nutlets (mericarps) inside a protective calyx. Calyx Calyx Calyx Nutlets Nutlets Perilla Back to fruit types menu Nutlets Photomicrograph of developing Salvia ovary with four nutlets. Salvia Back Next Back to dehiscent fruit menu A single Salvia nutlet appears very much like a single seed. Main menu Fruit Types Schizocarps Technically, a loment that separates into individual units when mature is considered a type of schizocarp. Tick-trefoil (Desmodium) Fruit Types Schizocarps In crane’s-bill, the elongated carpellary beak coils as the fruit (schizocarp) matures to lift each fruitlet above the stylar column. The spring-like action of the carpellary beak discharges a single seed from each fruitlet. Crane’s bill (Geranium) Carpellary beak Fruitlet Carpellary beak Stylar column Schizocarp Back to fruit types menu Back Back to dehiscent fruit menu Main menu
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