Fruits
Fruits are ripened ovaries of flowering plants, and are developed from the ovary wall from fertilized ovules (or seeds). The size, shape, color, and other attributes of fruits are extremely variable, depending upon each particular plant species.
Fruits may be dry in texture, such as those of the sunflower Helianthus annua, and the key-like fruits (or samaras) of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum); or they may be thick and fleshy, like the tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), the apple (Malus pumila), and the watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris).
Some fruits only contain a single seed, as is the case of the avocado (Persea gratissima), the cherry (Prunus avium), the mango (Mangifera indica), and the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera. These single-seeded, fleshy fruits are known as drupes. Other fruits contain numerous seeds, such as the orange (Citrus sinensis), broad bean (Vicia faba), and cucumber (Cucumis sativa). All of these edible, multi-seeded fruits are technically known as berries, although the bean is also known as a legume. Some fruits develop into an aggregate structure, consisting of the fruits of numerous flowers. Examples of aggregate fruits include the mulberry (Morus nigra), the pineapple (Ananas sativus), the blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), and the fruit-head of maize (or corn, Zea mays); consisting of numerous, dry fruits known as achenes.
Fruits that release their ripe seeds for dispersal into the environment are termed dehiscent. For example, the milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has pod-like fruits that split open when ripe, releasing their seeds into the air. Fruits that do not release their seeds are called indehiscent. One example is a squash or gourd (such as the pumpkin; Cucurbita pepo). Indehiscent fruits must be eaten by an animal (which later defecates the seeds) or rot on the ground to disperse the seeds.
Many fruits are characterized by the mode in which their seeds are dispersed into the environment. Edible fruits that are fleshy and tasty are designed to attract animals, which then feed on the ripe fruits and eventually pass the undigested seeds some distance away from the parent plant. One example of this is the wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca). In comparison, the fruit of the coconut (Cocos nucifera) is designed for long-distance dispersal in the ocean, and has a fibrous, extremely tough, waterproof covering around its single, large seed. The light, conspicuously plumed, one-seeded fruits of the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are designed for dispersal by the wind. The fruits of the burdock (Arctium lappa) are covered in tiny, recurved bristles, which readily stick the fruits to the fur of a passing mammal for dispersal
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