Fruit and vegetable output in 2004

The term fruit has many different meanings depending on context. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however In botany, a fruit is the ripened ovary—together with seeds— of a flowering plant. Botany, plant science(s, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of Biology and is the scientific study of plant Life Ripening is a process in Fruits that causes them to become more Edible. In the Flowering plants an ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or Gynoecium. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group In many species, the fruit incorporates the ripened ovary and the surrounding tissues. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants disseminate seeds. ^[1]

In cuisine, when food items are called "fruit", the term is most often used for those plant fruits that are edible and sweet and fleshy, examples of which include plums, apples and oranges. Cuisine (from French cuisine, "cooking culinary art kitchen" ultimately from Latin coquere, "to cook" is a specific set Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. A plum or gage is a stone fruit Tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn But in cooking, the word fruit may also rarely be loosely applied to other parts of a plant, such as the stems of rhubarb, which are made into sweet pies, but which are not botanically a fruit at all. Rheum is a genus of Perennial plants that grows from thick short Rhizomes The genus is in the family Polygonaceae, and includes the vegetable A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a Pastry dough shell that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or Savoury ingredients

Although the word fruit has limited use in cooking, in reality a great many common vegetables, as well as nuts and grains, are botanically speaking, the fruits of various plant species. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however Nut is a general term for the large dry oily Seeds or Fruit of some Plants. ^[2] No single terminology really fits the enormous variety that is found among plant fruits. ^[3] The cuisine terminology for fruits is quite inexact and is likely to remain so.

The term false fruit (pseudocarp, accessory fruit) is sometimes applied to a fruit like the fig (a multiple-accessory fruit; see below) or to a plant structure that resembles a fruit but is not derived from a flower or flowers. An accessory fruit, false fruit, spurious fruit, epigynous fruit, syconium or pseudocarp is a Fruit where the fleshy Ficus is a Genus of about 850 Species of woody Trees Shrubs Vines Epiphytes and hemi-epiphytes in the family Some gymnosperms, such as yew, have fleshy arils that resemble fruits and some junipers have berry-like, fleshy cones. Gymnosperm (Gymnospermae are a group of Spermatophyte seed-bearing Plants with Ovules on the edge or blade of an open Sporophyll, which are The family Taxaceae, commonly called the yew family includes three genera and about 7 to 12 species of Coniferous Plants or in other interpretations Distinguish from Aryl, which is a type of organic chemical radical Junipers are Coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. The term "fruit" has also been inaccurately applied to the seed-containing female cones of many conifers. A cone (in formal botanical usage Strobilus, plural strobili is an organ on Plants in the division Pinophyta ( Conifers ^[4]

With most cultivated fruits, pollination is a vital part of fruit culture, and the lack of knowledge of pollinators and pollenizers can contribute to poor crops or poor quality crops. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female A pollinator is the biotic agent ( vector) that moves Pollen from the male Anthers of a Flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish A pollenizer or polleniser, sometimes pollinizer or polliniser (see spelling differences) is a Plant that provides Pollen In a few species, the fruit may develop in the absence of pollination/fertilization, a process known as parthenocarpy. In Botany and Horticulture, parthenocarpy (literally meaning virgin fruit is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of ^[5] Such fruits are seedless. A plant that does not produce fruit is known as acarpous, meaning "without fruit". ^[6]

Botanic fruit and culinary fruit

Venn diagram representing the relationship between (culinary) vegetables and (botanical) fruits. Venn diagrams or set diagrams are Diagrams that show all hypothetically possible Logical relations between a finite collection of sets (groups Some vegetables fall into both categories.

Many foods are botanically fruit, but are treated as vegetables in cooking and food preparation. Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible These include cucurbits (e. Cucurbitaceae is a Plant family commonly known as Melons, gourds or cucurbits and includes crops like Cucumbers g. , squash, pumpkin, and cucumber), tomato, peas, beans, corn, eggplant, and sweet pepper, spices, such as allspice and chillies. Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita native to the Mexico and Central America, also called marrows depending Pumpkin is a Gourd -like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds The cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the Gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family A pea (inaccurately called a '''sweet pea''' by food distubutors is most commonly the small spherical Seed or the seed-pod of the Legume Pisum Bean is a common name for large plant Seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae used for human food or animal Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades "Green pepper" redirects here For green peppercorns see Black pepper. A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive Allspice, also called Jamaica pepper,"Kurundu" Myrtle pepper, pimento, or newspice, is a Spice which is the dried unripe The chili pepper, chilli pepper, or chili, is the fruit of the plants from the Genus Capsicum, which are members of the nightshade ^[2] Occasionally, though rarely, a culinary "fruit" is not a true fruit in the botanical sense. For example, rhubarb is often referred to as a fruit, because it is used to make sweet desserts such as pies, however only the petiole of the rhubarb plant is edible. Rheum is a genus of Perennial plants that grows from thick short Rhizomes The genus is in the family Polygonaceae, and includes the vegetable In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. ^[7] In the culinary sense, a fruit is usually any sweet tasting plant product associated with seed(s), a vegetable is any savoury or less sweet plant product, and a nut any hard, oily, and shelled plant product. ^[8]

Although a nut is a type of fruit, it is also a popular term for edible seeds, such as peanuts (which are actually a legume) and pistachios. Nut is a general term for the large dry oily Seeds or Fruit of some Plants. A list of edible seeds here includes seeds that are directly foodstuffs rather than yielding derived products The peanut, or Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the Legume family Fabaceae native to South America, Mexico A legume is a Plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae or a Fruit of these specific plants The pistachio ( Pistacia vera L Anacardiaceae or sometimes Pistaciaceae) is a small Tree native to mountainous regions of ^[9] Technically, a cereal grain is a fruit termed a caryopsis. In Botany, a caryopsis is a type of simple dry Fruit &mdash one that is monocarpelate (formed from a single Carpel) and Indehiscent (not However, the fruit wall is very thin and fused to the seed coat so almost all of the edible grain is actually a seed. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored Therefore, cereal grains, such as corn, wheat and rice are better considered edible seeds, although some references list them as fruits. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many ^[10] Edible gymnosperms seeds are often misleadingly given fruit names, e. g. pine nuts, ginkgo nuts, and juniper berries. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba; in Chinese 銀杏 Pinyin romanization yín xìng) frequently misspelled as "Gingko" and also known Junipers are Coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae.

Fruit development

The development sequence of a typical drupe, the nectarine (Prunus persica) over a 7½ month period, from bud formation in early winter to fruit ripening in midsummer (see image page for further information)

Main article: Fruit anatomy

A fruit is a ripened ovary. In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach A Fruit in Botany refers to a mature ovary. In fleshy fruits the outer often edible layer is the pericarp, which is the tissue that develops After the ovule in an ovary is fertilized in a process known as pollination, the ovary begins to ripen. Ovule literally means "small egg." In Seed plants the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells For soil improvement see Fertilization (soil. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female The ovule develops into a seed and the ovary wall pericarp may become fleshy (as in berries or drupes), or form a hard outer covering (as in nuts). A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit In some cases, the sepals, petals and/or stamens and style of the flower fall off. A petal (from Ancient Greek petalon "leaf" "thin plate" regarded as a highly modified leaf is one member or part of the corolla A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also Fruit development continues until the seeds have matured. With some multiseeded fruits the extent to which the flesh develops is proportional to the number of fertilized ovules. ^[11]

The wall of the fruit, developed from the ovary wall of the flower, is called the pericarp. The pericarp is often differentiated into two or three distinct layers called the exocarp (outer layer - also called epicarp), mesocarp (middle layer), and endocarp (inner layer). In some fruits, especially simple fruits derived from an inferior ovary, other parts of the flower (such as the floral tube, including the petals, sepals, and stamens), fuse with the ovary and ripen with it. In the Flowering plants an ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or Gynoecium. A petal (from Ancient Greek petalon "leaf" "thin plate" regarded as a highly modified leaf is one member or part of the corolla A sepal (from Latin separatus "separate" + petalum "petal" is a part of the flower of Angiosperms or flower plants The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male Ripening is a process in Fruits that causes them to become more Edible. The plant hormone ethylene causes ripening. Structure This Hydrocarbon has four Hydrogen Atoms bound to a pair of Carbon atoms that are connected by a Double bond. When such other floral parts are a significant part of the fruit, it is called an accessory fruit. An accessory fruit, false fruit, spurious fruit, epigynous fruit, syconium or pseudocarp is a Fruit where the fleshy Since other parts of the flower may contribute to the structure of the fruit, it is important to study flower structure to understand how a particular fruit forms. ^[4]

Fruits are so diverse that it is difficult to devise a classification scheme that includes all known fruits. Many common terms for seeds and fruit are incorrectly applied, a fact that complicates understanding of the terminology. Seeds are ripened ovules; fruits are the ripened ovaries or carpels that contain the seeds. To these two basic definitions can be added the clarification that in botanical terminology, a nut is not a type of fruit and not another term for seed, on the contrary to common terminology. Nut is a general term for the large dry oily Seeds or Fruit of some Plants. ^[2]

There are three basic types of fruits:

1. Simple fruit
2. Aggregate fruit
3. Multiple fruit

Simple fruit

Epigynous berries are simple fleshy fruit. From top right: cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries red huckleberries

Simple fruits can be either dry or fleshy and result from the ripening of a simple or compound ovary with only one pistil. Cranberries are a group of Evergreen dwarf Shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccos The Vaccinium vitis-idaea &ndash often called lingonberry also called cowberry, foxberry, mountain cranberry, red whortleberry Blueberries are Flowering plants in the genus Vaccinium, sect A gynoecium (from Ancient Greek gyne, "woman" is the Female reproductive part of a Flower. Dry fruits may be either dehiscent (opening to discharge seeds), or indehiscent (not opening to discharge seeds). Dehiscence is the spontaneous opening at maturity of a plant structure such as a Fruit, Anther, or Sporangium, to release its contents ^[12] Types of dry, simple fruits (with examples) are:

• achene - (buttercup)
• capsule - (Brazil nut)
• caryopsis - (wheat)
• fibrous drupe - (coconut, walnut)
• follicle - (milkweed)
• legume - (pea, bean, peanut)
• loment
• nut - (hazelnut, beech, oak acorn)
• samara - (elm, ash, maple key)
• schizocarp - (carrot)
• silique - (radish)
• silicle - (shepherd's purse)
• utricle - (beet)

Fruits in which part or all of the pericarp (fruit wall) is fleshy at maturity are simple fleshy fruits. An achene is a type of simple dry Fruit produced by many species of Flowering plants Achenes are "monocarpellate" (formed from one Carpel In Botany a capsule is a type of simple dry Fruit produced by many species of Flowering plants A capsule is a dehiscent structure composed of two The Brazil nut ( Bertholletia excelsa) is a South American Tree in the family Lecythidaceae, and also the name of the tree's commercially In Botany, a caryopsis is a type of simple dry Fruit &mdash one that is monocarpelate (formed from a single Carpel) and Indehiscent (not Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family Walnuts (genus Juglans) are Plants in the family Juglandaceae. In botany a follicle is a dry unilocular many-seeded Fruit formed from one carpel and dehiscing by the ventral suture in order to release seeds such as in Larkspur A legume is a Plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae or a Fruit of these specific plants A pea (inaccurately called a '''sweet pea''' by food distubutors is most commonly the small spherical Seed or the seed-pod of the Legume Pisum Bean is a common name for large plant Seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae used for human food or animal The peanut, or Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the Legume family Fabaceae native to South America, Mexico A loment is a type of modified Legume that breaks apart at constrictions occurring between the segments of the seeds Nut is a general term for the large dry oily Seeds or Fruit of some Plants. The Common Hazel ( Corylus avellana) is a species of Hazel native to Europe and western Asia, from the British Isles For the babyfood see Beech-Nut. Beech ( Fagus) is a genus of ten Species of Deciduous Trees in the The acorn is the nut of the Oak tree (genera Quercus, Lithocarpus and Cyclobalanopsis, in the A samara is a type of Fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous papery tissue develops from the ovary wall Elms are Deciduous and Semi-deciduous Trees comprising the genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae, found An ash can be any of four different tree genera from four very distinct families; most commonly in a combined form (e Acer ( maple) is a Genus of Trees or Shrubs They are variously classified in a family of their own the Aceraceae, or A schizocarp is a dry Fruit that develops from multiple Carpels When mature it splits up into one-seeded mericarps. The carrot ( Daucus carota subsp sativus, Etymology: Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carōta, from Greek karōton A silique is a Fruit (seed Capsule) of 2 fused Carpels that separate when ripe leaving a Peristant partition with the length being more The radish ( Raphanus sativus) is an edible Root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that was domesticated in Europe in pre- A silique is a Fruit (seed Capsule) of 2 fused Carpels that separate when ripe leaving a Peristant partition with the length being more Capsella bursa-pastoris, known by its common name shepherd's-purse because of its triangular purse-like pods is a small (up to 0 An achene is a type of simple dry Fruit produced by many species of Flowering plants Achenes are "monocarpellate" (formed from one Carpel The beet or beetroot is a Flowering plant species ( Beta vulgaris) in the family Chenopodiaceae. Types of fleshy, simple fruits (with examples) are:

• berry - (redcurrant, gooseberry, tomato, avocado)
• stone fruit or drupe (plum, cherry, peach, apricot, olive)
• false berry - Epigynous accessory fruits (banana, cranberry)
• pome - accessory fruits (apple, pear, rosehip)

Aggregate fruit

Dewberry flowers. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification The Red currant ( Ribes rubrum) is a member of the genus Ribes in the Gooseberry family Grossulariaceae, native to parts of western The gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa ( syn R grossularia) is a species of Ribes, native to Europe, northwestern Africa The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family The avocado ( Persea americana) (from Nahuatl āhuacatl) also known as aguacate ( Spanish) butter pear or In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit A plum or gage is a stone fruit Tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. This article is about the Cherry berry also classified as fruit for the ornamental tree See Cherry Blossom. The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach The Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin syn The Olive ( Olea europaea) is a Species of small Tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern An epigynous berry or false berry is an Accessory fruit found in certain Plant species with an inferior ovary, distinguishing it from For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Cranberries are a group of Evergreen dwarf Shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccos In botany a pome (after the Latin name for an Apple: pomum) is a type of Fruit produced by Flowering plants in the Subfamily The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. A pear is a pomaceous Fruit produced by a tree of Genus Pyrus. The rose hip and rose haw, is the pomaceous Fruit of the Rose plant that typically is red-to-orange but might be dark purple-to-black See also List of early spring flowers The Dewberries ( Rubus sect Note the multiple pistils, each of which will produce a drupelet. A gynoecium (from Ancient Greek gyne, "woman" is the Female reproductive part of a Flower. In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit Each flower will become a blackberry-like aggregate fruit

Main article: Aggregate fruit

An aggregate fruit, or etaerio, develops from a flower with numerous simple pistils. A compound fruit is one that develops from several ovaries in either a single Flower or multiple flowers A compound fruit is one that develops from several ovaries in either a single Flower or multiple flowers ^[13] An example is the raspberry, whose simple fruits are termed drupelets because each is like a small drupe attached to the receptacle. The raspberry (plural raspberries) is the edible Fruit of a multitude of plant species in the subgenus Idaeobatus of the genus Rubus In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit In some bramble fruits (such as blackberry) the receptacle is elongated and part of the ripe fruit, making the blackberry an aggregate-accessory fruit. Bramble refers to thorny plants of the Genus Rubus, in the Rose family ( Rosaceae) The BlackBerry is a Wireless Handheld device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager ^[14] The strawberry is also an aggregate-accessory fruit, only one in which the seeds are contained in achenes. Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide An achene is a type of simple dry Fruit produced by many species of Flowering plants Achenes are "monocarpellate" (formed from one Carpel ^[15] In all these examples, the fruit develops from a single flower with numerous pistils.

Some kinds of aggregate fruits are called berries, yet in the botanical sense they are not. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification

Multiple fruit

Main article: Multiple fruit

A multiple fruit is one formed from a cluster of flowers (called an inflorescence). Multiple fruit s are fruits that are formed from a cluster of flowers (called an Inflorescence) growing on a Catkin. An inflorescence is a group or cluster of Flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main Branch or a complicated arrangement of branches Each flower produces a fruit, but these mature into a single mass. ^[16] Examples are the pineapple, edible fig, mulberry, osage-orange, and breadfruit. Pineapple ( Ananas comosus) is the common name for an edible Tropical Plant and also its Fruit It is native to the southern part of Brazil Ficus is a Genus of about 850 Species of woody Trees Shrubs Vines Epiphytes and hemi-epiphytes in the family The species is dioeceous, with male and female Flowers on different plants Breadfruit ( Artocarpus altilis) is a Tree and Fruit native to the Malay Peninsula and western Pacific islands

In some plants, such as this noni, flowers are produced regularly along the stem and it is possible to see together examples of flowering, fruit development, and fruit ripening

In the photograph on the right, stages of flowering and fruit development in the noni or Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia) can be observed on a single branch. Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as great morinda, Indian mulberry, beach mulberry, Tahitian noni, cheese fruit Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as great morinda, Indian mulberry, beach mulberry, Tahitian noni, cheese fruit First an inflorescence of white flowers called a head is produced. After fertilization, each flower develops into a drupe, and as the drupes expand, they become connate (merge) into a multiple fleshy fruit called a syncarpet. For soil improvement see Fertilization (soil. ^[17]

There are also many dry multiple fruits, e. g.

• Tuliptree, multiple of samaras. "Tulip tree" redirects here For the African tulip tree see Spathodea campanulata.
• Sweet gum, multiple of capsules. Sweetgum ( Liquidambar) is a genus of four species of Flowering plants in the family Altingiaceae, though formerly often treated in the Hamamelidaceae
• Sycamore and teasel, multiple of achenes. Dipsacus is a Genus of Flowering plant in the family Dipsacaceae.
• Magnolia, multiple of follicles. Magnolia is a large Genus of about 210 Flowering plant Species in the subclass Magnolioideae of the family

Fruit chart

To summarize common types of fruit:

• Berry -- simple fruit and seeds created from a single ovary
  • Pepo -- Berries where the skin is hardened, like cucurbits
  • Hesperidium -- Berries with a rind, like most citrus fruit
• False berries -- Epigynous fruit made from a part of the plant other than a single ovary
• Compound fruit, which includes:
  • Aggregate fruit -- multiple fruits with seeds from different ovaries of a single flower
  • Multiple fruit -- fruits of separate flowers, packed closely together
• Other accessory fruit -- where the edible part is not generated by the ovary

Seedless fruits

An arrangement of fruits commonly thought of as vegetables, including tomatoes and various squash

Seedlessness is an important feature of some fruits of commerce. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification A hesperidium (plural hesperidia) is a modified Berry with a tough leathery rind Citrus is a common term and Genus of Flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of An epigynous berry or false berry is an Accessory fruit found in certain Plant species with an inferior ovary, distinguishing it from A compound fruit is one that develops from several ovaries in either a single Flower or multiple flowers A compound fruit is one that develops from several ovaries in either a single Flower or multiple flowers Multiple fruit s are fruits that are formed from a cluster of flowers (called an Inflorescence) growing on a Catkin. An accessory fruit, false fruit, spurious fruit, epigynous fruit, syconium or pseudocarp is a Fruit where the fleshy The Blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum) is a species of Ribes Berry native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia. The Red currant ( Ribes rubrum) is a member of the genus Ribes in the Gooseberry family Grossulariaceae, native to parts of western The gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa ( syn R grossularia) is a species of Ribes, native to Europe, northwestern Africa The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades Guava is a Genus of about 100 Species of Tropical Shrubs and small Trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. The lúcuma ( Pouteria lucuma) is a Subtropical Fruit of Andean origin (sometimes known as lucmo or eggfruit in English native The chili pepper, chilli pepper, or chili, is the fruit of the plants from the Genus Capsicum, which are members of the nightshade The pomegranate ( Punica granatum) is a Fruit -bearing Deciduous Shrub or small Tree growing to between five and eight metres tall The avocado ( Persea americana) (from Nahuatl āhuacatl) also known as aguacate ( Spanish) butter pear or The kiwifruit (or kiwi is the edible Berry of a cultivar group of the woody Vine Actinidia deliciosa and For the Tokyo University supercomputer see Gravity Pipe. GRAPE, or GRA phics P rogramming E nvironment is Pumpkin is a Gourd -like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds This article refers to the Dried fruit shell For the alternative country musical group of a similar name see The Gourds. The cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the Gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same Melon is a term used for various members of the Cucurbitaceae family with fleshy fruit An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn The lemon ( Citrus × limon) is a hybrid in cultivated wild plants Lime is a term referring to a number of different fruits (generally Citruses, both Species and hybrids, which are typically round green to yellow The grapefruit is a subtropical Citrus Tree grown for its Fruit which was originally named the "forbidden fruit " of Barbados For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Cranberries are a group of Evergreen dwarf Shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccos Blueberries are Flowering plants in the genus Vaccinium, sect The BlackBerry is a Wireless Handheld device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager The raspberry (plural raspberries) is the edible Fruit of a multitude of plant species in the subgenus Idaeobatus of the genus Rubus A boysenberry is a cross between a Raspberry, and the Pacific blackberry. The species is dioeceous, with male and female Flowers on different plants Pineapple ( Ananas comosus) is the common name for an edible Tropical Plant and also its Fruit It is native to the southern part of Brazil Ficus is a Genus of about 850 Species of woody Trees Shrubs Vines Epiphytes and hemi-epiphytes in the family The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. The Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin syn The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach This article is about the Cherry berry also classified as fruit for the ornamental tree See Cherry Blossom. Green beans ( American English) or French beans ( British English) also called squeaky beans are the unripe Fruits of any kind of Bean The sunflower seed is the Fruit of the Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita native to the Mexico and Central America, also called marrows depending Commercial cultivars of bananas and pineapples are examples of seedless fruits. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Pineapple ( Ananas comosus) is the common name for an edible Tropical Plant and also its Fruit It is native to the southern part of Brazil Seedless fruits are Fruits that have been developed to possess no seeds generally to make consumption easier and more convenient Some cultivars of citrus fruits (especially navel oranges and mandarin oranges), table grapes, grapefruit, and watermelons are valued for their seedlessness. Citrus is a common term and Genus of Flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn The Mandarin orange or mandarin (or mandarine) is a small Citrus tree ( Citrus reticulata) with fruit resembling the orange. Table grapes are Grapes intended for consumption while they are fresh as opposed to grapes grown for Wine production Juice production or for drying into The grapefruit is a subtropical Citrus Tree grown for its Fruit which was originally named the "forbidden fruit " of Barbados Watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ( Thunb) Matsum & Nakai family Cucurbitaceae) refers to both Fruit and Plant of a vine-like (climber In some species, seedlessness is the result of parthenocarpy, where fruits set without fertilization. In Botany and Horticulture, parthenocarpy (literally meaning virgin fruit is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of Parthenocarpic fruit set may or may not require pollination. Most seedless citrus fruits require a pollination stimulus; bananas and pineapples do not. Seedlessness in table grapes results from the abortion of the embryonic plant that is produced by fertilization, a phenomenon known as stenospermocarpy which requires normal pollination and fertilization. An embryo (from Greek:, plural, lit "that which grows" from en- "in" + bryein "to swell be full" is a multicellular Stenospermocarpy is the biological mechanism that produces seedlessness in some fruits notably many Table grapes. ^[5]

Seed dissemination

Variations in fruit structures largely depend on the mode of dispersal of the seeds they contain. Biological dispersal refers to those processes by which a Species maintains ecosystem This dispersal can be achieved by animals, wind, water, or explosive dehiscence. ^[18]

Some fruits have coats covered with spikes or hooked burrs, either to prevent themselves from being eaten by animals or to stick to the hairs, feathers or legs of animals, using them as dispersal agents. Hair is a keratinised protein filament that grows through the epidermis from follicles deep within the Dermis. Examples include cocklebur and unicorn plant. Cockleburs ( Xanthium) are a Genus of Flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to the Americas and eastern Proboscidea is a Genus of Flowering plant in the family Martyniaceae, some of whose species are known as devil's claw ^[19][20]

The sweet flesh of many fruits is "deliberately" appealing to animals, so that the seeds held within are eaten and "unwittingly" carried away and deposited at a distance from the parent. Likewise, the nutritious, oily kernels of nuts are appealing to rodents (such as squirrels) who hoard them in the soil in order to avoid starving during the winter, thus giving those seeds that remain uneaten the chance to germinate and grow into a new plant away from their parent. Nut is a general term for the large dry oily Seeds or Fruit of some Plants. A squirrel is one of the many small or medium-sized Rodents in the family Sciuridae. Hoarding is the storing of food or other goods or money Hoarding of food is a natural behaviour in certain species of animals Germination is the process whereby growth emerges from a period of dormancy ^[2]

Other fruits are elongated and flattened out naturally and so become thin, like wings or helicopter blades, e. WING "ESPN 1410" is a commercial AM radio station in Dayton Ohio operating with 5000 watts at 1410 kHz with studios offices and transmitter located on David History Since 400 AD Chinese children have played with bamboo flying toys. g. maple, tuliptree and elm. Acer ( maple) is a Genus of Trees or Shrubs They are variously classified in a family of their own the Aceraceae, or "Tulip tree" redirects here For the African tulip tree see Spathodea campanulata. Elms are Deciduous and Semi-deciduous Trees comprising the genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae, found This is an evolutionary mechanism to increase dispersal distance away from the parent via wind. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are Other wind-dispersed fruit have tiny parachutes, e. g. dandelion and salsify. See also Aruncus, which is also known as "goatsbeard" ^[18]

Coconut fruits can float thousands of miles in the ocean to spread seeds. The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family Some other fruits that can disperse via water are nipa palm and screw pine. Nypa fruticans, known as the Attap Palm ( Singapore) Nipa Palm ( Philippines) and Mangrove Palm or Nipah palm Pandanus is a Genus of Monocots with about 600 known Species. ^[18]

Some fruits fling seeds substantial distances (up to 100 m in sandbox tree) via explosive dehiscence or other mechanisms, e. The Sandbox tree ( Hura crepitans; Syn Hura brasiliensis Wild g. impatiens and squirting cucumber. Impatiens is a genus of about 900-1000 species of Flowering Plants in the family Balsaminaceae. Ecballium elaterium, also called the squirting cucumber or exploding cucumber, is a plant in the Cucumber family ^[21]

Uses

Nectarines are one of many fruits that can be easily stewed

Many hundreds of fruits, including fleshy fruits like apple, peach, pear, kiwifruit, watermelon and mango are commercially valuable as human food, eaten both fresh and as jams, marmalade and other preserves. The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach A pear is a pomaceous Fruit produced by a tree of Genus Pyrus. The kiwifruit (or kiwi is the edible Berry of a cultivar group of the woody Vine Actinidia deliciosa and Watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ( Thunb) Matsum & Nakai family Cucurbitaceae) refers to both Fruit and Plant of a vine-like (climber Mangoes belong to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous species of tropical fruiting Trees in the Flowering plant family Anacardiaceae Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus British-style marmalade is a sweet preserve with a bitter tang made from Fruit, Sugar, water and (in some commercial brands a Gelling agent Food preservation is the process of treating and handling Food in a way that preserves its edibility and nutrition value Fruits are also in manufactured foods like cookies, muffins, yoghurt, ice cream, cakes, and many more. In the United States and Canada, a cookie is a small flat-baked treat usually round containing milk flour eggs and sugar etc A muffin is somewhat like a small Cake, and though it does resemble a Cupcake in that they both have cylindrical bases and rounded conical tops they usually Yoghurt, yogurt, yoghourt, youghurt or yogourt (see spelling below is a Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined Cake is a form of Food that is usually sweet and often baked. Many fruits are used to make beverages, such as fruit juices (orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, etc) or alcoholic beverages, such as wine or brandy. Orange juice is a Fruit juice obtained by squeezing pressing or otherwise crushing the interior of an orange. Apple juice is the Fruit juice product manufactured from the pressing of Apples Production Apple juice is produced by the crushing of apples Grape juice is a Juice obtained from crushing Grapes The juice is often fermented and made into Wine, Brandy, or Vinegar Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Brandy (from brandywine, derived from Dutch brandewijn — “burnt wine” is a spirit produced by distilling Wine ^[22] Apples are often used to make vinegar. The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. Vinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the Fermentation of Ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient Acetic acid (also called ethanoic acid

Many vegetables are botanical fruits, including tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, okra, squash, pumpkin, green bean, cucumber and zucchini. The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family "Green pepper" redirects here For green peppercorns see Black pepper. The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades Okra ( American English:, British English,) also known as lady's finger, bhindi ( Hindustani) and gumbo, is a Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita native to the Mexico and Central America, also called marrows depending Pumpkin is a Gourd -like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds Green beans ( American English) or French beans ( British English) also called squeaky beans are the unripe Fruits of any kind of Bean The cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the Gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same Zucchini ( in North American and Australian English) or courgette (/kʊǝrˈʒɛt/ or in New Zealand and British English ^[23] Olive fruit is pressed for olive oil. The Olive ( Olea europaea) is a Species of small Tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Olive oil is a fruit oil obtained from the olive ( Olea europaea; family Oleaceae along with Lilacs Jasmine and ash trees Spices like vanilla, paprika, allspice and black pepper are derived from berries. Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. Paprika is a spice made from the grinding of dried sweet red or green Bell peppers ( Capsicum annuum) Allspice, also called Jamaica pepper,"Kurundu" Myrtle pepper, pimento, or newspice, is a Spice which is the dried unripe Black pepper ( Piper nigrum) is a flowering Vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its Fruit, which is usually dried ^[24]

Nutritional value

Fruits are generally high in fiber, water and vitamin C. Fiber or fibre is a class of Materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces similar to lengths of thread. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Fruits also contain various phytochemicals that do not yet have an RDA/RDI listing under most nutritional factsheets, and which research indicates are required for proper long-term cellular health and disease prevention. Phytochemicals are plant-derived chemical compounds under scientific research for their potential health-promoting properties but with unproved benefits [1] Regular consumption of fruit is associated with reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer disease, cataracts, and some of the functional declines associated with aging. [2]

Nonfood uses

Because fruits have been such a major part of the human diet, different cultures have developed many different uses for various fruits that they do not depend on as being edible. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Many dry fruits are used as decorations or in dried flower arrangements, such as unicorn plant, lotus, wheat, annual honesty and milkweed. Proboscidea is a Genus of Flowering plant in the family Martyniaceae, some of whose species are known as devil's claw See Lotus for other uses including several other plant taxa bearing this name Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Annual Honesty ( Lunaria annua) is a tall (height about 1 m hairy-stemmed Biennial plant found throughout Europe, North America, and parts Ornamental trees and shrubs are often cultivated for their colorful fruits, including holly, pyracantha, viburnum, skimmia, beautyberry and cotoneaster. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or A shrub or Bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of Woody plant, distinguished from a Tree Holly ( Ilex) is a Genus of about 600 Species of Flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only Viburnum ( Viburnum) is a Genus of about 150-175 species of Shrubs or (in a few species small Trees that were previously included Skimmia is a genus of four species of Evergreen Shrubs and small Trees in the Rue family Rutaceae, all native to warm temperate Beautyberry ( Callicarpa) is a Genus of Shrubs and small Trees in the family Verbenaceae; between 40-150 species are Cotoneaster (kəˈtoʊniˈæstɚ is a Genus of Woody plants in the rose family Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region (temperate ^[25]

Fruits of opium poppy are the source of the drugs opium and morphine. The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the type of Poppy from which Opium and many refined opiates such as Morphine, Thebaine Opium is a Narcotic formed from the Latex (ie sap released by lacerating (or "scoring" the immature seed pods of opium poppies ( Medical uses Morphine can be used as an analgesic in hospital settings to relieve pain in Myocardial infarction pain in ^[26] Osage orange fruits are used to repel cockroaches. The species is dioeceous, with male and female Flowers on different plants Cockroaches (or simply "roaches" are Insects of the order Blattaria. ^[27] Bayberry fruits provide a wax often used to make candles. Myrica is a genus of about 35-50 species of small Trees and Shrubs in the family Myricaceae order Fagales ^[28] Many fruits provide natural dyes, e. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe. g. walnut, sumac, cherry and mulberry. Walnuts (genus Juglans) are Plants in the family Juglandaceae. Sumac (ˈʃuːmæk or /ˈs(juːmæk/ also spelled sumach) is any one of approximately 250 species of Flowering plants in the Genus Rhus This article is about the Cherry berry also classified as fruit for the ornamental tree See Cherry Blossom. ^[29] Dried gourds are used as decorations, water jugs, bird houses, musical instruments, cups and dishes. This article refers to the Dried fruit shell For the alternative country musical group of a similar name see The Gourds. Pumpkins are carved into Jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween. Pumpkin is a Gourd -like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds A jack-o'-lantern (sometimes also spelled Jack O'Lantern)is typically a carved Pumpkin. Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is a Holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. The spiny fruit of burdock or cocklebur were the inspiration for the invention of Velcro. Burdock is any of a group of biennial Thistles in the Genus Arctium, family Asteraceae Cockleburs ( Xanthium) are a Genus of Flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to the Americas and eastern Velcro is a brand name of fabric hook-and-loop fasteners. It consists of two layers a "hook" side which is a piece of Fabric covered with tiny hooks ^[30]

Coir is a fibre from the fruit of coconut that is used for doormats, brushes, mattresses, floortiles, sacking, insulation and as a growing medium for container plants. Coir (from Malayalam kayar, cord is a coarse fibre extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a Coconut. The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family The shell of the coconut fruit is used to make souvenir heads, cups, bowls, musical instruments and bird houses. ^[31]

Production

India is world leader in fresh fruit production followed by Vietnam and then China. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Top Ten Fresh Fruit Producers — 2005
Country	Production (Int $1000)	Footnote	Production (MT)	Footnote
India	1,052,766	C	6,600,000	F
Vietnam	438,652	C	2,750,000	F
People's Republic of China	271,167	C	1,790,000	F
Indonesia	255,216	C	1,600,000	F
Nigeria	223,314	C	1,400,000	F
Iran	223,314	C	1,400,000	F
Myanmar	183,436	C	1,150,000	F
Papua New Guinea	129,203	C	810,000	F
Nepal	82,945	C	520,000	F
Democratic People's Republic of Korea	78,160	C	490,000	F
No symbol = official figure,F = FAO estimate, * = Unofficial figure, C = Calculated figure; Production in Int $1000 have been calculated based on 1999-2001 international prices Source: Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic and Social Department: The Statistical Division

Philippines is world leader in tropical fresh fruit production followed by Indonesia and then India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Papua New Guinea (or ˈpæpjuːə in Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini) officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

Top Ten Tropical Fresh Fruit Producers — 2005
Country	Production (Int $1000)	Footnote	Production (MT)	Footnote
Philippines	389,164	C	3,400,000	F
Indonesia	377,718	C	3,300,000	F
India	335,368	C	2,930,000	F
People's Republic of China	177,413	C	2,164,000	F
Colombia	131,629	C	1,150,000	F
Thailand	83,556	C	730,000	F
Pakistan	60,893	C	532,000	F
Brazil	55,513	C	485,000	F
Bangladesh	31,934	C	279,000	F
Mexico	28,615	C	250,000	F
No symbol = official figure, F = FAO estimate, * = Unofficial figure, C = Calculated figure; Production in Int $1000 have been calculated based on 1999-2001 international prices Source: and Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic and Social Department: The Statistical Division

See also

• List of culinary fruits
• Fruit trees
• Tutti frutti
• Fruitarianism

References

External links

• Images of fruit development from flowers at bioimages. vanderbilt. edu
• Fruit and seed dispersal images at bioimages. vanderbilt. edu
• Fruit Facts from California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.
• Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 on Fruit