Content is from Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm ., without modification.
Updates are forthcoming.
Fruits: Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit anthocarpanthocarp:
simple or compound and including some tissue of non-ovarian origin (accessory tissue)
, or pericarpium; simple; bilomentum, or capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
, or carceruluscarcerulus:
simple, multicarpellate, indehiscent fruit consisting of one or more seeds and air space enclosed by an undifferentiated pericarp (Spjut 1994)
(Lawsonia); denticidaldenticidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, fruit opening by a series of apical teeth
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary, or fissuricidal capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary, or foraminicidalforaminicidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, fruits opening irregularly
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary, or septifragalseptifragal:
type of capsular dehiscence, splitting through the exterior wall suture(s) but not the septum(-a), the valves of the wall then separating from the septum(-a) and the locules thus opened directly to the outside
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary, or loculicidalloculicidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal)
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary (Decodon of authors, but not Spjut); capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary not inflated; capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary without operculumoperculum:
a dehiscent cap (or lid) of a seed or fruit that opens during germination or dehiscence
; simple; balausta (Punica Spjut Fig. 13A-B & only family), or glans (Sonneratia); without persistent central column; valves not diverging at top of central column; crowned by sepalssepal:
a member of the outer envelope of a flower (calyx)
, or stylestyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
(Dubanga, Sonneratia); not within accessory organ(s), or within accessory organ(s); within sepalssepal:
a member of the outer envelope of a flower (calyx) (Punica), or hypanthium and calyxcalyx:
the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
(Duabanga, Sonneratia); persistent; with hypanthium berries; with hypanthium wall distinct from fruit wall; 1-seeded to many-seeded; 1-seeded (-many); with (1–)20-carpellate; with carpels united; with carpels remaining united at maturity; with carpels not radiating at maturity; with carpels remaining connected at stylestyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit; without sterilesterile:
lacking male and/or female reproductive parts; also, not producing fruit or seed
carpels; not sulcatesulcate:
surface relief—having one or more elongate, relatively narrow and shallow depressions or grooves
; in transection tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
; apexapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ
not beakedbeak:
a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered
, or beaked; apexapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ short beaked; wall membranaceousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
, or fleshy, or leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, or woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
; dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
, or indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
. Dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit) unit seed(s). Dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit) regularly, or irregularly; and shedding seeds; without replumreplum:
the rim, formed by the persistent placentas, and connected by a false septum in Brassicaceae fruits. The fruit valves are attached to this rim and separate from it in dehiscent fruits.
. Epicarpepicarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with exocarp
brown (all shades), or green; dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
; durable; leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, or rindlike; glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
; without armature; smooth; without wing(s); without apicalapical:
at or pertaining to the end of the seed or fruit distal from its point of attachment (i.e., base)
respiratory hole. Mesocarpmesocarp:
the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
present, or absent; fleshy; composed of 1 unified layer; without lactiform cavity system. Endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
present, or absent; not separating from exocarpexocarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with epicarp
; thin, or thick, or woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
, or spongyspongy:
soft, light, discontinuous but cohesive, and somewhat resilient
(Punica); not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; smooth; without wing; without operculumoperculum:
a dehiscent cap (or lid) of a seed or fruit that opens during germination or dehiscence; without secretory cavities; without mechanism for seedling escape; without grooves; without longitudinallongitudinal:
of or relating to length or the lengthwise dimension
ridges. Funiculusfuniculus:
(alt. funicle) stalk connecting the ovule (later seed) to the ovary (later fruit) placenta
short; short without seed bearing hookswith hooks:
bristles or spines with curved or backwards pointing tips, or with secondary bristles along their length
(retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds: Arilaril:
(broad sense) appendicular structure that wholly or partly envelops a seed and is produced from or a modification of the funicle, raphe, or outer integument; usually fleshy or pulpy, sometimes spongy or tufted-capillate, often brightly colored
absent. Seed minute to larger than minute; less than 1 mm long to 10 to less than 25 mm long; 1–17 mm long; angularangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles
, or J-shaped, or cuneate, or falcatefalcate:
shaped like a scythe or sickle
, or obovoidobovoid:
3D shape—obovate
, or pyriform, or irregular, or oblongoblong:
2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded
, or ovateovate:
2D shape—egg-shaped in outline, widest point is towards one end of the organ, the other end tapers gradually, attachment at or near the broad end (compare obovate, ovoid)
, or triangulartriangular:
2D shape—three relatively straight sides with distinct corners; more angular than teardrop-shaped
, or fusiformfusiform:
spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends
(Duabanga); in transection flattened, or compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
, or triangulartriangular:
2D shape—three relatively straight sides with distinct corners; more angular than teardrop-shaped; not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beakbeak:
a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered; Dubanga without caudatecaudate:
tapering to a long, tail-like appendage
appendage(s), or with caudatecaudate:
tapering to a long, tail-like appendage appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves, or without food reserves, or without apparent food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotestasarcotesta:
pulpy or fleshy outer layer of the seed coat, simulates aril
absent, or present (Punica & enlarged, watery, translucenttranslucent:
transmitting light uniformly and diffusely
); fleshy. Testatesta:
seed coat
present; without markedly different marginalmarginal:
at, on, or close to the margin or border
tissue, or with markedly different marginalmarginal:
at, on, or close to the margin or border
tissue; marginalmarginal:
at, on, or close to the margin or border
tissue winglike; without fleshy or leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
layer over hard layer, or with fleshy or leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
layer over hard layer; loose, or tight; dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen; surface smooth, or unsmooth; surface with merged raised features; surface ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
, or reticulatereticulate:
surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces
, or striatestriate:
surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges
, or wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other, or with notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approaching each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
, or pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
(Woodfordia); with hairs over surface; without glandularglandular:
surface relief—covered with small, raised secretory glands, regular or irregularly shaped, translucent or opaque, and maybe distinctly colored
pubescence; without wings, or with wing(s); 1-winged; with wing encompassing seed (Lafaensia), or wing on one side (Lagerstroemia); with solid wing(s) similar to testatesta:
seed coat
; without collar; without operculumoperculum:
a dehiscent cap (or lid) of a seed or fruit that opens during germination or dehiscence; colored; monochrome; brown (all shades), or red; coriaceouscoriaceous:
texture—leathery
, or thin, or hard; not becoming mucilaginousmucilaginous:
resembling mucilage; moist and sticky
when wetted; surrounding embryo, or surrounding food reserve (rarely). Hilumhilum:
on seeds, the scar indicating where the funiculus was attached; on grass caryopses, the scar visible on the outer fruit surface revealing where the seed is attached on the inner fruit wall surface; or in Asteraceae cypselae, the scar visible on the outer fruit wall revealing where the fruit was attached to the receptacle
larger than punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
; basalbasal:
at or pertaining to the point of attachment; (of embryo) embryo occupies one end of the seed
, or marginalmarginal:
at, on, or close to the margin or border
. Rapheraphe:
a ridge or seam on the seed coat, formed by the portion of the funiculus united to the ovule wall in longitudinally curved ovules
conspicuous (to winglike in Lagerstroemia). Endosperm development nuclear; scant; without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apicalapical:
at or pertaining to the end of the seed or fruit distal from its point of attachment (i.e., base)
lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor. Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; completely filling testatesta:
seed coat
(no food reserve), or nearly filling testatesta:
seed coat
(trace or scanty food reserve); chamber central to wings; 1 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axileaxile:
on or of the axis
and centric; foliatefoliate:
appearing leaf-like
, or conicalconical:
3D shape—cone-shaped, with the point of attachment at the broad end
; with spatulatespatulate:
2D shape—like a spatula; rounded at the apex, with base long and tapered; (of embryo) embryo is straight and axile and centric with the cotyledons expanded to form the shape of a spatula or spoon; (of cotyledons) cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk but not invested into the stalk
cotyledons, or investinginvesting:
(of embryo) embryo is nearly or completely filling seed coat, straight, and axile and centric with spatulate cotyledons and covering the stalk for at least half its length; (of cotyledons) cotyledons spatulate and covering the stalk for at least half its length
cotyledons; straight, or bentbent:
(of embryo) embryo is bent at an acute, V-shaped angle with the ends close together and generally thick cotyledons
, or J-shaped; parallel to seed length; with cotyledons abruptly connected to hypocotyl-radicle, or gradually connected to hypocotyl-radicle; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; with cotyledons containing oils and punicic acid (Punica); without stomata; not green; with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; well developed, or moderately developed; 0.4–0.8 times length of embryo; somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle, or as wide as hypocotyl-radicle; 1–2 times wider than hypocotyl-radicle; partially concealing hypocotyl-radicle, or not concealing hypocotyl-radicle; foliaceous, or not foliaceous; thin; flat, or controtiplicate, or convoluted, or twice-folded (in larger seeds); smooth; with apicesapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ entire; with margins separate; basally entire, or cordatecordate:
2D shape—heart-shaped, with attachment at or near the broad end (compare obcordate)
; equal in size; not punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle moderately developed to well developed; straight; not thickened.
Noxious weeds: 1 or more USA state noxious weeds in this family.
USA states and territories with listed noxious weeds: Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Florida (FL), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Iowa (IA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Mexico (NM), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Washington (WA), Wisconsin (WI), and Wyoming (WY).
USA state and territory noxious weeds:
Lythrum alatum Pursh: USA state noxious weed: NHª.
Lythrum salicaria L.: USA state noxious weed: ALª●, ARª●, CAª●, COª●°, FLª, IAª, IDª●°, ILª●, MNª●, MOª●, MTª●°, NCª, NDª●, NEª●°, NHª°, NMª●, NVª●, OHª●°, OKª, ORª●, PAª●, SCª, SDª●, TNª●, UT●°, VTª●°, WAª●, WIª●, WYª●°.
Lythrum spp.: USA state noxious weed: ARª●, MIª●, NC●.
Lythrum virgatum L.: USA state noxious weed: CO°, IAª, MNª●, MTª●°, NDª●, NEª●, NHª, NVª●, TNª●, WAª●.
Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed.
Last updated February 2006
Literature specific to this family: Duke, N.C. & B.R. Jackes. 1987. A systematic revision of the mangrove genus Sonneratia (Sonneratiaceae) in Australasia. Blumea 32:277–302.
General references: Baillon, H.E. 1866–95. Histoire des plantes, 13 vols. Hachette & Co., Paris, Corner, E.J.H. 1976. The seeds of Dicots, esp. vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York, Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Engler, A. 1900–1953. Das Pflanzenreich, nos. 1–107. Facsimile edition. Engelmann-Cramer, Weinheim, Engler, A. & K. Prantl. 1924 and onward. Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilimien. W. Engelman, Leipzig, Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) & 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) & 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gray, A. 1848. Genera florae Americae boreali-orientalis illustrata, 2 vols. James Munroe & Co., Boston., Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, & J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 & amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, LeMaout, E. & J. Decaisne. 1876. A general system of botany, 1,065 p. Longmans, Green, & Co., London, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, and Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182.
Authors: M. Islam, A. Gottlieb, M. Maher, J. Scher, A. Redford
Content last updated August 2024
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