· Fruits that are formed without including the accessory structures are called true fruits e.g. tomatoes while those including accessory structures are false fruits e.g. pears.
· Fruits may be classified based on the number of ovaries, number of flowers and other structures forming the fruit, into;
§ Simple fruits
§ Fruits formed from one ovary in one flower
§ Aggregate fruits
§ Fruits formed from more than one ovary of one flower
§ Multiple fruits
§ Fruits formed from an inflorescence and include accessory structures
· After maturity, fruits are also classified into fleshy/Succulent or dry fruits
§ Fleshy/Succulent fruits may be soft or hard
§ Simple succulent fruits
· Have soft and fleshy epicarp and formed from single ovary
· They include;
o Berries
§ Have soft epicarp and fleshy mesocarp and endocarp
o Hesperidiums
§ Berries with a thicker skin containing oils
o Pepos
§ Berries with a comparatively thick exocarp or rind
o Drupes/stones
§ Have edible exocarp and fleshy mesocarp and inedible, hard stone-like endocarp
o Pome
§ A fleshy fruit with mature ovary and accessory structures e.g. petals, sepals and receptacle
o Polydrupes
§ Are soft aggregate fruits (fusion of several drupes) e.g. strawberries, blackberries etc.
§ Dry fruits may be dehiscent or indehiscent depending on whether they split open to release the seeds or not. They include;
§ Simple dry indehiscent fruits
· Samara
o A winged fruit
· Achene
o A hard dry fruit with one seed which almost feels the pericarp but attached loosely
· Nuts
o Simple dry fruit similar to achenes, but formed from two or three carpels. Pericarp is relatively hard and heavy
· Caryopsis
o It is a simple, dry fruit in which the testa and pericarp are fused
§ Simple dry dehiscent fruits
· Legumes
o Are dry fruits which split along both dorsal and ventral sutures to release their seeds e.g. Cassia angustifolia
· Follicles
o Dry fruits which splits along inner suture only e.g. strophanthus
· Capsules
o Dry fruits formed from two or more carpels
§ Valvate Capsule –the tip split open
§ Porose capsule –form pores to release seeds
§ Loculicidal capsules –splits along locules
§ Circumscissile capsules –split through the centre of the fruit
§ Septicidal capsule –split along the septa