Question

Coconut fruit is:

A. capsule

B. drupe

C. berry

D. Nut 

Answer 1

Hint: Fruit develops from ripened ovary. A fruit comprises mainly two parts i.e. pericarp and seed. The pericarp is the wall of the ovary. Pericarp can be fleshy and dry. The pericarp has three layers namely epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp.

Complete step by step solution:

Coconut fruit is a drupe as it develops from a single ovary.

Fruits are broadly classified into nine groups namely: Capsule, drupe, nut, berry, pome, grain, legumes, aggregate fruits and multiple fruits.

Capsule fruits are basically dry dehiscent fruits in which the capsule opens on maturation to release the seed such as cotton, witch hazel, etc. They have more than one carpel

Drupe fruits are derived from a single ovary that usually contains a single seed. Drupe fruits are also known as stone fruits because of the hard seed present under the shell which is fleshy and covered by skin. These are simple fleshy fruits. The most common examples are pistachio, apricot, cherries etc.

Berries are fleshy, pulpy and juicy fruits. They may or may not have seeds. The number of seeds also vary as few species may have only one seed whereas others may have many seeds. These fruits are brightly colored and have a very thin covering. The common examples are blueberries, blackberries, strawberries etc.

A nut is an edible seed that is covered with a hard shell. These fruits originate from the compound ovary (ovary which is formed by joining several carpels.

Hence, the correct answer is “B” Drupe.

Note:  Coconut can be considered as seed and nut as well but by definition, coconut is a drupe fruit. Coconut fruit is known as a drupe. They develop from the monocarpellary superior ovary and have one seed. In coconut, the mesocarp is fibrous.