{"id":285,"date":"2014-10-29T14:32:20","date_gmt":"2014-10-29T14:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orbisec.com\/?page_id=285"},"modified":"2014-10-29T14:32:20","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T14:32:20","slug":"fruit-salad-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orbisec.com\/index.php\/fruit-salad-part-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Fruit Salad Part III"},"content":{"rendered":"

YOUR DAILY DOSE OF BOTANY \u2013 APRIL 2013<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fruit Salad Part III<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Scott Namestnik, snamestnik@orbisec.com<\/a><\/h2>\n

In the March issue of this column in The Plant Press<\/em>, we looked at the different types of dehiscent dry fruit.\u00a0 This month, we\u2019ll look at the other type of dry fruit, indehiscent dry fruit.\u00a0 As you may recall from last month, indehiscent dry fruit are dry fruit that remain intact with the seeds inside the fruit after the fruit has been shed by the plant.<\/p>\n

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There are several types of indehiscent dry fruit; the most common type is the achene<\/strong>.\u00a0 Achenes have a single seed that is connected to the locule, or fruit cavity, at only one point.\u00a0 The point at which the seed connects to the locule is the stalk of the ovule, which is called the funiculus.\u00a0 The ovaries of buttercups (Ranunculus<\/em> spp.) characteristically develop into achenes at maturity.\u00a0 If an achene becomes bladder-like or corky at maturity, it is known as a utricle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Samaras<\/a>
Samaras of white ash (Fraxinus americana). \u00a9 Steven J. Baskauf, http:\/\/bioimages.vanderbilt.edu\/<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ash (Fraxinus<\/em> spp.) and elm (Ulmus<\/em> spp.) have fruit that are essentially achenes with papery wings attached.\u00a0 In ash this wing is attached on just one side of the seed, whereas in elm the papery wing surrounds the seed.\u00a0 Regardless of its location, the purpose of the wing is to aid in wind dispersal of the fruit.\u00a0 Also regardless of the wing location, this type of indehiscent dry fruit is known as a samara<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When an indehiscent dry fruit splits into two or more one-seeded parts, called mericarps, the fruit is considered a schizocarp<\/strong>.\u00a0 Carrots (Daucus carota<\/em> ssp. sativus<\/em>) and other members of the family Apiaceae have fruit that meet this description.\u00a0 The fruit of maples (Acer<\/em> spp.) are an interesting case in that they are samaras that split into two parts at maturity.\u00a0 Many people like to call these fruit whirlybirds or helicopters, but I say we should inform them that they are actually considered samaroid schizocarps!<\/p>\n

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In the composites (Asteraceae), the fruit is an achene-like structure that develops from an inferior ovary.\u00a0 In this case, the fruit is often known as a cypsela<\/strong>, but some botanists still consider this an achene.<\/p>\n

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Grasses (Poaceae) also have indehiscent dry fruits, but the seed coat of the single seed is attached to the fruit wall.\u00a0 In this case, the fruit is known as a caryopsis<\/strong>, or a grain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Nut (acorn) of northern red oak (Quercus rubra).
\u00a9 Steven J. Baskauf, http:\/\/bioimages.vanderbilt.edu\/<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The type of fruit that most people probably picture when they hear \u201cindehiscent, dry fruit\u201d is a nut<\/strong>.\u00a0 Nuts originate from compound ovaries and have stony fruit walls or outer shells.\u00a0 An oak (Quercus<\/em> spp.) acorn is a classic example of a nut; the seed is located inside of the acorn.<\/p>\n

You can see that there is a lot of variety when you talk about indehiscent dry fruits.\u00a0 Many of these are quite small, and examination and identification is aided by a hand lens.\u00a0 Others are quite large and conspicuous.\u00a0 Regardless, because they don\u2019t break apart to disperse seeds at maturity, fruit in this group can often be observed nearly year-round.<\/p>\n

If you have a question about nuts or dry fruit\u00a0that you would like answered in a future edition of this column, send me an email at snamestnik@orbisec.com<\/a>.\u00a0 I may not be able to address all requests given the space allotted for this column, but I will answer those that I can.<\/p>\n