Fruit anatomy

Fruit anatomy is the internal structure of fruits.

Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. In fleshy fruits, the outer layer (which is often edible) is the pericarp, which is the tissue that develops from the ovary wall of the flower and surrounds the seeds.

But in some seemingly pericarp fruits, the edible portion is not derived from the ovary. For example, in the fruit of the ackee tree the edible portion is an aril, and in the pineapple several tissues from the flower and stem are involved.

The outer covering of a seed is tough because the parent plant needs to protect the plant growing.

Categories of fruits

Some plants commonly called vegetables, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash, are actually fruits.

Fruits are found in three main anatomical categories: