Page 28 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

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

When a fruit is formed from the gynoecium alone, it is a TRUE FRUIT but
when other parts of the flower or inflorescence like the perianth, receptacle or stalk
take part in its formation it is a FALSE FRUIT. When the fruit is formed from the
whole inflorescence all the flowers, or their ovaries increase in size after
fertilization become aggregated together and form a single mass called
COMPOSITE FRUIT.

In contrast to seeds which have only one scar, the hilum, the fruit usually
shows two scars, one at the base marking the attachment to the stalk or parent plant,
and the other mostly apical and minute, marking the scar of style and stigma. In
addition, scars of the other floral parts may be distinct at the apex of inferior fruits
e.g., Vanilla or at the base of superior fruits e.g., Poppy. Persistent floral parts may
be present with the fruit e.g., sessile stigma in Poppy, style, stigma and stylopod in
Umbelliferous fruits, calyx at the top of inferior fruits as Lobelia or at the base of
superior fruits as Capsicum, involucre in Chestnut.

Externally, the fruit may be smooth and glabrous e.g., Capsicum, glabrous
e.g., Fennel, Pepper; pubescent e.g., Anise, granular e.g., Citrus fruits, spiny e.g.,
Stramonium; longitudinally striated e.g., Cardamom; transversely striated e.g.,
Senna; ridged e.g., Umbelliferous fruits. The fruits may also show reticulations on
the outer surface, because of drying e.g., Black pepper or wrinkles e.g., Vanilla.
Moreover, the sutures are represented on the surface of some fruits, where the
dorsal suture is present as raised ridges and the ventral suture by either lines or
grooves, all running from base to apex.

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