Compound fruits
Fruit Types Compound fruits Compound fruits are derived from numerous flowers in a compact inflorescence. Even though derived from separate flowers, a compound fruit appears and behaves as an individual fruit. The technical term for this type of fruit is a syncarp. Inflorescence Compound fruit Noni (Morinda) Back to fruit types menu Next Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits types Compound fruits are separated into two major groups by Stuppy and Spjut (2012). The two basic types of compound fruits include: Fruitlets contained within floral parts Cudrania Ficus Back to fruit types menu Fruitlets mostly exposed – not contained in floral parts Back Click on a fruit type for more information. Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits Fruitlets contained within floral parts include: Back to fruit types menu Achenoconum Catoclesium Synconium Trymosum Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Achenoconum An achenoconum is a cone-like structure composed of bracts that cover individual achenes. Birch (Betula) Hops (Humilus) Back to fruit types menu Compound fruit Back Next Single-winged fruit Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Syconium Figs produce syconium fruits. In a syconium, the entire inflorescence ripens into a hollow fruit with the seeds attached to an inverted receptacle. The inflorescence has only a small opening (ostiole) in the swollen receptacle surrounded by enclosing bracts. The fig wasp enters through this opening to pollinate the flowers. Flower Inflorescence Compound fruit Fig (Ficus) Single fruit Flowers Ostiole Receptacle Back to fruit types menu Ostiole Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Receptacle Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Catoclesium When the fruitlets are covered with leaves, bracts or floral tissue that do not open at maturity it is called a catoclesium. Corn (Zea) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Trymosum When the fruitlets are covered with a bract that open to release the fruits, it is termed a trymosum. Chestnut (Castanea) is covered with involucre bracts. Inflorescence Styles Compound fruit Bracts Bracts Nuts Back to fruit types menu Back Styles Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits Fruitlets exposed – not contained within floral parts include: Indehiscent Bibacca Sorosus Achenosum Dehiscent Capsiconum Back to fruit types menu Next Folliconum Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Bibacca The simplest compound fruit is a bibacca where paired flowers lead to a “double” fruit. In Honeysuckle, the fruits are merged only at the base. The compound fruit in partridgeberry appears to be a single fruit until you see the paired remnants of the original flowers on the surface of the fruit. Paired flowers Compound fruit Honeysuckle (Lonicera) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Paired flowers Compound fruit Partridgeberry (Mitchella) Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Sorosus A sorosus contains multiple fleshy fruitlets. Mulberry produces a cluster of fruits each enclosing an achene. The fleshy part of each fruit is swollen sepal (calyx) tissue. Notice the persistent style protruding from each fruit. Inflorescence Back to fruit types menu Compound fruit Mulberry (Morus) Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Sorosus In Osage orange, the large compound fruit develops from several flowers where the carpels stay together as a single unit. The individual fruits are achenes completely enclosed in receptacle and sepal (calyx) tissue. Achene Inflorescence Compound fruit Osage orange (Maclura) Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Sorosus Possible the largest tree fruit is the compound fruit seen in jackfruit (Artocapus). Fruits can reach a yard long and weigh over 80 pounds. Jack fruit form directly on the trunk. Jack fruit at market. Fruit separating into individual fruit segments. Edible fruit segments Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Sorosus In pineapple (Ananas), each flower is subtended by a persistent bract. Each fruit consists of edible parts derived from portions of the bracts and sepals. The hard, scaly outer part is made of the upper part of the bracts. Inflorescence Compound fruit Sterile bracts Flower Fertile bracts Back to fruit types menu Fertile bracts Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Sorosus In dogwood (Cornus), the compound fruit is a united group of drupes. In flowering dogwood (Cornus florida ), the drupes are united only at the base, while in kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa ), the drupes unite to form a ball-like grouping (sorosus). Compound fruit Inflorescence Cornus florida Back to fruit types menu Back Next Cornus kousa Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Achenosum A compound fruit with many dry fruitlets is called an achenosum. Sycamore (Platanus) produces numerous single-seeded nutlets (achenes) united in a ball-like fruit. Inflorescence Compound fruit Styles Three attached nutlets surrounded by long hairs. Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Folliconum A compound fruit with many dehiscent, single carpel fruitlets is called a folliconum. Banksia produces many follicles each from a fertilized flower in the inflorescence. Each follicle only opens after exposure from the intense heat of a bush fire. This type of fruit opening is called serotiny. Inflorescence Closed follicles Compound fruit Open follicles Banksia Back to fruit types menu Back Next Back to compound fruit menu Main menu Fruit Types Compound fruits - Capsiconum A compound fruit with many dehiscent, multiple carpel fruitlets is called a capsiconum. In sweetgum (Liquidambar), each individual fruit is a capsule derived from a 2-celled ovary. The elongated styles are persistent and form the paired beaks that define each capsule. Cross-section through the inflorescence. Inflorescence Compound fruit Ovary Styles Styles Styles Back to fruit types menu Back Back to compound fruit menu Main menu
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