Drupe
/druːp/
Definition
Drupe refers to a fleshy fruit type with a thin outer skin, a soft or fibrous middle layer, and a hard inner layer called a stone or pit that encloses the seed. It develops from a single ovary and is distinguished from berries by that stony inner wall. Common examples include peach, cherry, olive, and mango. In some species, the edible part is mainly the outer flesh surrounding the pit.
Botanical Significance
- Seed protection and dispersal: The hard inner layer helps protect the seed from damage, while the fleshy outer part attracts animals that carry or discard the seed away from the parent plant.
- Useful for plant identification: This fruit type is an important clue in botany because it helps separate groups of flowering plants and supports identification in families such as Rosaceae and Oleaceae.
- Linked to germination timing: In some species, the stony inner layer can slow water entry or physically limit sprouting, so seeds may germinate only after weathering, decay, or scarification, which means scratching or weakening the seed covering.
- Common horticultural examples: Gardeners encounter this structure in cherry, peach, plum, olive, and mango, where the edible part surrounds a hard pit that contains the seed.
Related Terms
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Pericarp
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Ovary
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Seed
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Ovule
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Fertilization
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Flower
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Berry
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