Schizocarp

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
(Redirected from Mericarp)
Jump to: navigation, search
File:Muskuskaasjeskruid vrucht.jpg
The indehiscent (remaining closed) schizocarp of Malva moschata will later split into segments called mericarps.

A schizocarp /ˈskɪzəkɑːrp/ is a dry fruit that, when mature, splits up into mericarps.

There are different definitions:

  • Any dry fruit composed of multiple carpels that separate.[1]
Under this definition the mericarps can contain one or more seeds (the mericarps of Abutilon have two or more seeds[2]) and each mericarp can be either:
  • Indehiscent (remaining closed), such as in the carrot and other Umbelliferae or in members of the genus Malva, or
  • Dehiscent (splitting open to release the seed), for example members of the genus Geranium. This is similar to what happens with a capsule, but with an extra stage. (In Abutilon, the mericarp is sometimes only partially dehiscent and does not release the seed.)

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>