Page 54 - Pharmacognosy 02-06203

The fruit consists of two parts: The seed and fruit wall (Pericarp).

The fruit wall is formed of Epicarp, Mesocarp and Endocarp.

1- The epicarp or outer epidermis:

It resembles that of the leaf with few or no stomata. It may contain Ca Ox. Crystals.

Trichomes may be present: nonglandular and unicellular (Anise, Senna), multicellular
(Cumen), glandular (Compositous fruits).

Hypodermis: May be present or not. It may be one or several layers: Parenchymatous
(Capsicum minimum), Collenchymatous (Capsicum anuum, Vanilla and Citrus fruits) and
Sclerenchymatous interrupted by parenchyma (Black pepper ).

2- The Mesocarp:

It may be very thin as in achenes or several layers in fleshy fruits,and is mainly formed
of parenchymatous cells and traversed by vascular strands.

It may show Oil cells (Black pepper), Oil glands (Citrus fruits), Vittae (Umbelliferous
fruits), latex vessels (Poppy), Ca ox. (hyoscyamus, capsicum, bitter orange peel),
Vanillin crystals (Vanilla pods). Hesperidin crystals (Citrus fruits), Starch (Black pepper).

3. The Endocarp or inner epidermis:

It is formed of a single layer, occasionally accompanied by one or more hypodermal
layers. It may be made of parenchyma (Colocynth) stone cells ( Black pepper, Almond
....), islands of lignified sclereids distributed in parenchyma (Capsicum), may grow into
the cavity of the fruit as hair- like secreting cells (Vanilla) or as multicellular emergencies
that become filled with juice (Citrus fruits).

A parquetry layer formed of groups of narrow parallel cells sometimes arranged in
different directions (Umbelliferous fruits).

General Characters of Apiaceae Fruits

* The fruit: Cremocarp (simple, dry, schizocarp, derived from an inferior, bicarpellary,
bilocular ovary .On ripening, it splits longitudinally into 2 one-seeded indehiscent parts
each part is called mericarp. Both mericarps are either separate from each other or
remain attached to the carpophore).

The Carpophore: is a thread-like structure which is not an extension of the raphe; but an
elongation of the receptacle and connects both mericarps from the commissural side at
the apex.

* The seed: is single filling the locule and composed of a thin testa, a large oily endosperm
and a small apical embryo.

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