Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits
The term gymnosperm translates as a plant with a naked seed. Therefore,
gymnosperm seeds are not covered by flower or ovary tissue and it has been
argued that gymnosperms do not produce true fruits in a botanical sense.
However, most gymnosperms do produce structures that cover the seeds
that perform similar functions to angiosperm fruits. A system for classifying
gymnosperm “fruits” has been proposed by Stuppy and Spjut (2012) that can
be used to group the different structural morphologies associated with or
covering gymnosperm seeds.
Back to fruit
types menu
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruit types include:
Spermidium
Galbulus
Back to fruit
types menu
Arillocarpium
Strobilus
Back
Next
Epispermatium
Simple cone
Arcesthida
Compound cone
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Spermidium
A spermidium is a drupe-like seed with a fleshy outer seed coat.
Ginkgo seeds are produced in autumn and have an outer fleshy and
inner hard seed coat. The outer fleshy coat can be malodorous.
Endosperm
Embryo
Seeds with the outer coat
removed.
Intact seed with fleshy
seed coat covering.
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Cut seed showing
embryo and
endosperm.
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Arillocarpium
An arillocarpium has seeds that are
partially or completely covered with a
fleshy aril-like structure. Members of
the Taxaceae have this type of structure.
Taxus
Cephalotaxus
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Epospermatium
An epispermatium has seeds attached at the base to a swollen receptacle.
Podocarpus is a good example of this type of structure.
Receptacle
Podocarpus
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Seed
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Arcesthida
In an arcesthida, the seeds are covered
with fleshy scales and can resemble a
berry. Juniper (Juniperus) is a good
example of this type of structure.
Juniperus
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Galbulus
A galbulus has seeds covered with joined,
fused scales and bracts that separate or
shatter to release the seeds.
Platycladus
Back to fruit
types menu
Bald cypress (Taxodium)
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Galbulus
Illustrated here are open galbulus in Cryptomeria and Chamaecyparis.
Hinoki falsecypress
Cryptomeria
Back to fruit
types menu
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Galbulus
Galbulus is common in members of the Cupressaceae.
Callitris
Actinostrobus
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Galbulus
Variations in galbulus fruits.
Monterey cypress
Sequoia
Cupressus
Sequoiadendron
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Redwood
Sequoia
Back to main
morphology menu
Dawn redwood
Metasequoia
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Stroiblus
A strobilus has seeds along the
margin of leaf-like megasporophylls.
These occur in the cycad Cycas.
Seed
Sporophyll
Sporophyll
Seed
Cycas revoluta
Back to fruit
types menu
Cycas media
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits – Simple Cone
Plants with a simple cone produce seeds on megasporophylls that are tightly
arranged in a spiral cone. This is a second fruit type in cycads. The red or orange
covering on the seed is the fleshy outer portion of the seed coat (sarcotesta).
Intact
sporophyll
cone
Seed
Shattered
cone
Seed
Sporophyll
Encephalartos ferox
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Encephalartos
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits – Compound Cone
The conifers produce seeds within a compound cone. The seeds are
produced on ovulate scales (megasporophylls) subtended by a woody bract.
Picea
Abies
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Pseudotsuga
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits – Compound Cone
The ovule that will form the seed is produced on an ovulate scale (megasporophyll).
Ovulate scale
Ovulate
scale
Ovule
Ovule
Pine (Pinus)
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits – Compound Cone
The mature seed is attached to a wing derived from the ovulate scale.
Seed coat
Embryo
A pair of mature
seeds in pine
Ovulate
scale
Wing
Endosperm (1n)
Female gametophyte
Spruce (Picea) seed
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Wing
Seed
Next
Seed
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Compound Cone
Some compound cones simply open at maturity (usually in two seasons) to
separate the scales and bracts and allow the winged seeds to be released.
Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora)
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Compound Cone
Other compound cones are subject to fire or heat-induced serotiny and
remain closed until exposed to fire. In some cases, compound cones
display weak serotiny and can open in time even without a fire trigger.
Pinus banksiana
Back to fruit
types menu
Pinus contorta
Back
Next
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu
Fruit Types
Gymnosperm fruits - Compound Cone
Some compound cones shatter rather than simply open at maturity with the
scales and bracts separating from a central core to release the winged seeds.
Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
Back to fruit
types menu
Back
Back to main
morphology menu
Main menu