Fruit Types

Dehiscent fruits

Follicle

Capsule

Silique
Back to fruit
types menu

Legume

Utricle

Click on a fruit type for more

information.

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
A capsule is a dry, dehiscent fruit containing multiple seeds. Dehiscence
indicates that the capsule opens when mature to release the seeds. Capsules
are a common fruit type and there are numerous different forms.

Lilac (Syringa)

Back to fruit
types menu

Poppy (Papavera)

Next

Lady-in-the mist
(Nigella)
Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Chelandine poppy
(Stylophorum)

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
Capsules contain several to many seeds and are categorized by the way they
split to release the seeds in a variety of ways. The simplest capsule has only
two chambers (locules) with two seeds as shown in lilac.

Seeds

Lilac (Syringa)

Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
Pansy exhibits a typical type of loculicidal capsule. This type is common and the
capsule opens down the back of each cell exposing the seeds along the septum
of the pod.

Pansy (viola)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
A loculicidal capsule opens through middle of the chamber (locule) rather than along
the septa that separates the chambers. The seeds are attached to the septa.
Septum

Lily (Lilium)
Back to fruit
types menu

Rose mallow (Hibiscus)

Back

Next

Crapemyrtle has
six locules.

Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia)
Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
Individual seeds within a capsule can be dry or fleshy when mature. Blue seeds
in peony have been fertilized, while the red ones have aborted.

Peony (Paeonia)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Blackberry lily (Belamcanda)

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
Capsules may be pod-like. The examples below are septicidal capsules where the
fruit separates along the septa between the locules.

Fireweed (Epilobium)

Oleander (Nerium)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
In cranes-bill, the elongated carpellary beak (white arrows) coils as the fruit
(yellow arrows) matures to lift the fruit above the stylar column (red arrow) and
discharge the seeds. Each fruit is a septicidal capsule as it opens along the septum.

Cranes-bill (Geranium)

Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
A poricidal capsule has openings (pores) that allow seed release.

Seeds

Pores
Pores

Poppy (Papavera)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
Soapworts capsule opens into a single pore at the top, while snapdragon forms
irregular pores at several subterminal locations on the capsule.
Pore

Pores

Soapwort (Saponaria)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
In chelandine poppy, apical clefts form to open the capsule.

Chelandine poppy (Stylophorum)

Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
Plantain has a circumscissile capsule called a pyxis. These types of capsules
separate into two pieces along a horizontal circular line across the fruit This
produces a lid that pops off to release the seeds.

Lid

Seeds

Lid

Seeds

Moss rose (Portulaca)

Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Plantain (Plantago)
Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Capsule
Twinleaf has a lid that does not completely separate from the capsule. The
lid is formed by a hinge that opens to release the seeds.

Lid

Seeds

Twinleaf (Jeffersonia)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Follicle
A follicle is a dry, dehiscent fruit that opens along one side.

Seeds

Foxglove (Digitalis)
Back to fruit
types menu

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Follicle
Follicles can appear similar to types of capsules, but each fruit in the cluster
is derived from a single carpel. A follicle illustrates why it is thought that a
carpel is evolved from a single folded modified leaf.

Delphinium (Delphinium)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Columbine (Aquilegia)
Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Follicle
Milkweed produces large follicles with many seeds topped with tufts of hairs.

Milkweed and butterflyweed (Asclepias)

Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Follicle
Magnolia produces an aggregate fruit of many dry, dehiscent follicles. The red
fleshy part of the seed is not fruit tissue, but is an aril derived from the seed.

Follicle

Aril covered seed

Magnolia (Magnolia)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Silique and Silicle
A silique is a dry, dehiscent fruit that develops from two carpels and opens along
two suture lines exposing the seeds attached to a papery septum. Siliques are
much longer than they are wide and occur in the crucifer family (Brassicaceae).
Septum

Dehisced fruit

Seeds

Intact fruit

Turnip (Brassica)
Back to fruit
types menu

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Silique and Silicle
A silicle is similar to a silique but it is less than twice as long as it is wide. It also
occurs in the crucifer family (Brassicaceae).
Seeds

Septum

Dehisced fruit

Intact fruit
Alyssum (Alyssum)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Silique and Silicle
Some crucifer fruits can be attractive and the plants are grown as ornamentals.

Fibigia (Fibigia )
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Honesty or money plant (Lunaria)

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Legume
A legume is a dry, dehiscent pod that opens along two sides. It is derived from a
single carpel and is characteristic of the legume family (Fabaceae). Each seed is
attached to one edge of the pod wall by a seed stalk (funiculus).
Funiculus

Seed

Pod wall

Hyacinth bean (Dolichos )

Back to fruit
types menu

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Legume
The fruit dehisces (opens) along two suture lines to release the seeds.

False indigo (Baptisia)

Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Senna (Senna)
Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Legume
A loment is a specialized legume pod with constrictions between each seed. These
segments may separate into individual units when mature.

Tick-trefoil (Desmodium)
These pod segments have small attachment
hooks that aid in animal dispersal.
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Utricle

A utricle is a single-seeded, dry, dehiscent or indehiscent fruit with a papery,

inflated covering (pericarp). In amaranth, the dehiscent utricle opens along a
circular line that separates to form a lid.

Lid
Seed

Lid
beginning
to separate

Amaranth (Amaranthus)
Back to fruit
types menu

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Utricle

Celosia produces a dehiscent utricle with a lid and persistent papery flower
parts around the base.
Single seed in papery fruit.

lid

Seed

The lid of this fruit has

already fallen off.
Celosia (Celosia)
Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Next

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu

Fruit Types
Utricle
The fruit in globe amaranth does not have a lid and is an example of an
indehiscent type of utricle.
Papery fruit over a single seed.

Seed

Globe amaranth (Gomphrena)

Back to fruit
types menu

Back

Back to dehiscent
fruit menu

Main menu