Pericarp
Pericarp
Pericarp (/pɛrɪkɑːrp/) is a term used in botany to refer to the part of a fruit that encloses the seed or seeds.
Etymology
The term "pericarp" is derived from the Greek words "peri," meaning around, and "karpos," meaning fruit.
Definition
The pericarp is the tissue that forms from the wall of the ovary in a flowering plant and is involved in protecting and dispersing the seeds. It is typically divided into three layers: the exocarp (outer layer), mesocarp (middle layer), and endocarp (inner layer).
Related Terms
- Exocarp: The outermost layer of the pericarp. Also known as the epicarp, it forms the skin or peel of the fruit.
- Mesocarp: The middle layer of the pericarp. It is often the fleshy part of the fruit that is eaten.
- Endocarp: The innermost layer of the pericarp. It surrounds the seed and can be hard (as in a peach pit) or soft (as in an orange).
- Ovary (botany): The part of a flower that develops into a fruit. The ovary wall becomes the pericarp.
- Seed: The reproductive unit of a flowering plant, typically enclosed by the pericarp.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pericarp
- Wikipedia's article - Pericarp
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski