Page 30 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

CLASSIFICATION OF TRUE FRUITS
True fruits are generally classified taking in consideration the following
points:

1) Their origin i.e., derived from ovary of a single or united carpels or of
free carpels of a single flower or the whole inflorescence.

2) The nature of the pericarp, dry, leathery, succulent, or hard and the
number of seeds enclosed.

3) The dehiscence or indehiscence of the pericarp i.e., split, and open to set
free the seeds or remain enclosing them.

Accordingly, true fruits may be simple where the fruit is formed from a
single ovary e.g., Senna pod and Fennel, or may be aggregate and formed from an
apocarpous gynoecium or composite and developed from the whole inflorescence.

I. SIMPLE FRUITS

Simple fruits are developed from a single ovary and are classified according
to the nature and characters of the pericarp into:
1) Dry fruits. when the pericarp is dry or hard membranous or leathery, e.g.,

Poppy. Fennel, Star anise ... etc.

2) Succulent fruits, where the pericarp or some parts of it are modified into

fleshy tissue which in certain cases becomes fibrous, e.g., Coconut.

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