Question

Pome is a false fruit as
A. Endocarp is cartilaginous
B. Pericarp is inconspicuous
C. Fruit is surrounded by fleshy thalamus
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint:A fruit typically grows from a ripe ovary or some portion of the floral region. Fruits can be true or false on the basis of the floral parts they produce. False fruit refers to a fruit formed from other parts of the plant as well as the ovary, especially the receptacle.

Complete Answer:
The fruit is a signature feature of the flowering plant. It is a mature or ripened ovary that forms after fertilisation. The fruit is usually made up of a wall or pericarp and seeds. Pericarp can be dry or fleshy. When the pericarp is thick and fleshy, it is separated into the outer epicarp, the middle mesocarp and the inner endocarp.

In most plants, as the fruit emerges from the ovaries, other floral parts degenerate and break off. However, in a few plants, such as grapes, apples, etc., thalamus also contributes to fruit formation. These fruits are also known as false fruits. False fruits do not grow from the wall of the ovaries. They are sometimes referred to as Pseudo-carp, Parthenocarpic fruit or accessory fruit.

Pome is a fruit that belongs to the family of Rosaceae. It comprises a fleshy fruit such as an apple or a pear having a thickened fleshy outer layer and a central core of normally five seeds enclosed in a capsule. Their edible flesh is derived not only from the ovary, but also from other parts of the flower.

Thus, the correct answer is C i.e Fruit is surrounded by fleshy thalamus.

Note: Fused carpels cover the seeds to shape the core of each pome. The seeds are surrounded by the endocarp, and the softer mesocarp i.e., the nutritious flesh of the pome covers the endocarp. The pericarp of the pome protects the edible flesh.