Angiosperm Reproductive
Characters
The flowers and fruit are the
distinctive characters that define
Angiosperms
FRUITS
(Fig. 11-14 handout Walter and Kiel)
•
Diagnostic character of
Angiosperms
Primarily functions for
dispersal
Develops from
PERICARP (ovary wall)
•
•
1.
2.
3.
Exocarp – outer “skin”
Mesocarp – middle,
often fleshy
Endocarp – inner layer
surrounding seeds – (not
in all fruits)
FRUIT TYPES
(Fig. 11-14 handout Walter and Kiel)
•
Pericarp Texture
1. Fleshy
2. Dry
– Pericarp Dehiscence
1. Indehiscent – seeds remain enclosed in
pericarp (fruits are dispersed)
2. Dehiscent – fruit opens to release seeds
(seeds are dispersed)
1
FRUIT TYPES
(Fig. 11-15,16,17.18 handout
Walter and Kiel)
• Simple fruits – derived from a single
flower with a single (mono- or syncarpous)
pistil
• Aggregate fruits – derived from several
separate (apocarpous) pistils of a single
flower (an aggregate of simple fruits
• Multiple fruits – derived from the fusion of
the gynoecia of several flowers
SIMPLE FRUITS
(Fig. 11-15 handout
Walter and Kiel)
• Fleshy fruits
– Drupe – “stone”
fruits, one-seeded
• Cherry, peach,
apricot, olive,
avocado, etc.
SIMPLE FRUITS
(Fig. 11-15 handout
Walter and Kiel)
• Fleshy fruits
– Berry – from
compound pistil,
multi-seeded
• Tomato, grape,
banana, kiwi, etc.
2
SIMPLE FRUITS
(Fig. 11-15 handout
Walter and Kiel)
• Fleshy fruits
– Pepo – leathery rind
(exocarp) – squash,
cucumber
SIMPLE FRUITS
(Fig. 11-15 handout
Walter and Kiel)
• Fleshy fruits
– Hesperidium –
leathery rind,
segments – citrus
SIMPLE FRUITS
• Fleshy fruits
– Pome – fleshy
hypanthium – apple,
pear
3
Dry Indehiscent
Fruits
(Fig. 11-16 handout Walter and Kiel)
Grain (caryopsis) –
seed coat fused to
pericarp (grass family –
corn, wheat, etc.
Achene – seed not
fused to pericarp,
includes samaras
(winged maple, ash,
elm), cypsellas
(dandelion)
Dry Indehiscent Fruits
(Fig. 11-16 handout
Walter and Kiel)
– Nut – Hard
exocarp – one
seeded
– Schizocarp – fruit
breaks into
unicarpellate
sections (carrot
family, geranium
family
DRY DEHISCENT FRUITS
(Fig. 11-17 handout
Walter and Kiel)
• Legume – monocarpous, 2 sutures (peas,
beans)
• Follicle – monocarpous, 1 suture
(larkspur)
• Capsule – syncarpous, various openings
– Septicidal – along septa
– Loculicidal – between septa
– Poricidal – pores
– Silique – 2 carpellate long (mustards)
– Silicle – 2 carpellate short (mustards)
4
Legume – monocarpous,(dehiscent) 2
sutures (peas, beans)
Follicle – monocarpous, dehiscent, 1 suture
splitting lengthwise (columbine, milkweed)
Capsule – syncarpous, various openings
(Fig. 11-17 handout
Walter and Kiel)
5
Loculcidal capsule of Oenothera
Septicidal capsule
(Fig. 11-17 handout
Walter and Kiel)
Capsule – syncarpous, dehiscent
Silique – 2 carpellate long (mustards)
Silicle – 2 carpellate short (mustards)
6
AGGREGATE FRUITS
(Fig. 11-18 handout
Walter and Kiel)
• Formed from fusion of numerous pistils
of the same flower (also called accessory
fruit)
– An aggregate of simple fruits
• Drupes – raspberry
• Achenes – strawberry (w/ fleshy receptacle)
• Follicles – magnolia
– Rose hip – expanded hypanthium with
achenes
The most common type of aggregate fruit
is a strawberry
The seeds of the
strawberry are located on
the outside of the fruit. The
juicy part is called the
receptacle
ROSE HIP
7
MULTIPLE FRUITS
(Fig. 11-17 handout Walter and Kiel)
• Formed from pistils
(and accessory parts)
of several different
flowers
– Pineapple –
inflorescence axis
becomes fleshy
– Fig
8