Question

Which of the following are schizocarpic fruits?
A) Siliqua and legume
B) Capsule and berry
C) Lomentum and capsule
D) Carcerulus and lomentum

Answer 1

Hint: Fruits bear seeds in flowering plants. Based on their formation, fruits are of different types. A schizocarpic fruit is the one that develops from a single ovary of a flower. Schizocarps are simple fruits that are generally dry in nature.

Complete answer:
A Siliqua is a type of fruit in which the length exceeds the breadth. These fruits are formed by fusion of two carpels. Siliqua are present in mustards. Siliqua dehisces on maturity.
Legumes belong to the family Fabaceae. They are a type of simple dry fruit that can open along a seam or dehisces. They are present in peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc. Leguminous plants bear nitrogen fixing bacteria in the nodules of their roots.
Capsule is a simple dry fruit that develops from a compound or multicarpeled ovary. Capsules can be dehiscent or indehiscent. Chestnuts, Eucalyptus and mahogany are examples of capsules.
Berries are fleshy fruits that develop from a single ovary. During development of berries, the outer ovarian wall develops into a fleshy structure called pericarp. Common examples are blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, etc. However, eggplants, tomatoes and cucumbers can also be classified as berries in botany.
Lomentum is a type of schizocarp. The Lomentum is constricted in between the seeds giving rise to single seeded compartments called mericarps. Tick trefoils are typical lomentum fruits.
Carcerulus is a type of Schizocarp that is composed of mericarps attached to a central axis. Carcerulus is characteristic of okra and hibiscus.
Therefore, it can be concluded that Carcerulus and Lomentum are schizocarpic fruits.

Hence, option (D) is correct.

Note: Schizocarps are dry fruits that lack pericarps. They are dry fruits. The wall of a schizocarp is constricted giving rise to numerous one seeded parts called mericarps. Schizocarps are formed from multiple carpels and can be dehiscent or indehiscent.