In botany, a caryopsis (plural caryopses) is a type of simple fruit—one that is monocarpellate (formed from a single carpel) and indehiscent (not opening at maturity) [1] and resembles an achene, except that in a caryopsis the pericarp is fused with the thin seed coat.
An assortment of different caryopses
Wheat spikelet with the three anthers sticking out
Caryopsis cross-section
The caryopsis is popularly called a grain and is the fruit typical of the family Poaceae (or Gramineae), which includes wheat, rice, and corn.[2]
The term grain is also used in a more general sense as synonymous with cereal (as in "cereal grains", which include some non-Poaceae). Considering that the fruit wall and the seed are intimately fused into a single unit, and the caryopsis or grain is a dry fruit, little concern is given to technically separating the terms fruit and seed in these plant structures. In many grains, the "hulls" to be separated before processing are flower bracts.
Etymology
The name "caryopsis" is derived from the Greek words karyon and -opsis, meaning "nut" and "having the appearance of", respectively. The term was first used by Achille Richard to refer to the dry, monospermic, indehiscent fruit commonly found in grasses.[3]
This definition of fruit for the Gramineae family has persisted to the modern day, but some botanists have challenged the idea that the dry caryopsis is a defining characteristic of the family. The other forms of fruit proposed to be borne by grasses include achenes,[4]utricles,[4]berries,[5] and nuts.[6] However, others have suggested that these differing fruit structures are representative of caryopsis diversity rather than of entirely different structures.[7] This diverse form of the caryopsis would include the follicle-like form of Crypsis and Eleusine where a free pericarp adjoins the seeds which are extruded when moistened (as in an achene or utricle), the berry-like form found in some bamboo genera including Dinochloa and Olmeca where the pericarp is more thick and fleshy, and the nut-like form found in Dendrocalamus and Schizostachyum. By this definition, the caryopsis is truly the only fruit type found in the Gramineae. The types of caryopsis are often distinguished by the terms "modified caryopsis", referring to caryopses with a pericarp not wholly adnate to the seed coat, and "true caryopsis", referring to those with a pericarp totally adherent to the seed coat.[8]
References
^"Caryopsis". Merriam Webster. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
^"caryopsis". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
^Richard, Achille (1811). "Analyse botanique des embryons endorhizes ou monocotyledones, et particulierement de celui des Graminees". OCLC 15141724. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Stapf, Otto (1904). "On the Fruit of Melocanna bambusoides, Trin., an Endospermless, Viviparous Genus of Bambuseae". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Oxford University Press. 6 (9): 401–425.
^Bews, John William (1929). The world's grasses: their differentiation, distribution economics and ecology. London (United Kingdom) Longmans, Green and Co.
^Tsvelev, N.N. (1976). "Zlaki SSSR [Cereals of the USSR]". Science, Leningrad.
^Brandenburg, D.M. (1985). A Survey of Modified Caryopses in the Gramineae. Vol. 72. American Journal of Botany. p. 943.
January 25, 2023
caryopsis, botany, caryopsis, plural, caryopses, type, simple, fruit, that, monocarpellate, formed, from, single, carpel, indehiscent, opening, maturity, resembles, achene, except, that, caryopsis, pericarp, fused, with, thin, seed, coat, assortment, different. In botany a caryopsis plural caryopses is a type of simple fruit one that is monocarpellate formed from a single carpel and indehiscent not opening at maturity 1 and resembles an achene except that in a caryopsis the pericarp is fused with the thin seed coat An assortment of different caryopses Wheat spikelet with the three anthers sticking out Caryopsis cross section The caryopsis is popularly called a grain and is the fruit typical of the family Poaceae or Gramineae which includes wheat rice and corn 2 The term grain is also used in a more general sense as synonymous with cereal as in cereal grains which include some non Poaceae Considering that the fruit wall and the seed are intimately fused into a single unit and the caryopsis or grain is a dry fruit little concern is given to technically separating the terms fruit and seed in these plant structures In many grains the hulls to be separated before processing are flower bracts Etymology EditThe name caryopsis is derived from the Greek words karyon and opsis meaning nut and having the appearance of respectively The term was first used by Achille Richard to refer to the dry monospermic indehiscent fruit commonly found in grasses 3 This definition of fruit for the Gramineae family has persisted to the modern day but some botanists have challenged the idea that the dry caryopsis is a defining characteristic of the family The other forms of fruit proposed to be borne by grasses include achenes 4 utricles 4 berries 5 and nuts 6 However others have suggested that these differing fruit structures are representative of caryopsis diversity rather than of entirely different structures 7 This diverse form of the caryopsis would include the follicle like form of Crypsis and Eleusine where a free pericarp adjoins the seeds which are extruded when moistened as in an achene or utricle the berry like form found in some bamboo genera including Dinochloa and Olmeca where the pericarp is more thick and fleshy and the nut like form found in Dendrocalamus and Schizostachyum By this definition the caryopsis is truly the only fruit type found in the Gramineae The types of caryopsis are often distinguished by the terms modified caryopsis referring to caryopses with a pericarp not wholly adnate to the seed coat and true caryopsis referring to those with a pericarp totally adherent to the seed coat 8 References Edit Caryopsis Merriam Webster Retrieved 31 August 2014 caryopsis Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 31 August 2014 Richard Achille 1811 Analyse botanique des embryons endorhizes ou monocotyledones et particulierement de celui des Graminees OCLC 15141724 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Jacques Felix Henri 1962 Les graminees Poaceae d Afrique tropicale 1 Generalites classification description des genres IRAT a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Stapf Otto 1904 On the Fruit of Melocanna bambusoides Trin an Endospermless Viviparous Genus of Bambuseae Transactions of the Linnean Society of London Oxford University Press 6 9 401 425 Bews John William 1929 The world s grasses their differentiation distribution economics and ecology London United Kingdom Longmans Green and Co Tsvelev N N 1976 Zlaki SSSR Cereals of the USSR Science Leningrad Brandenburg D M 1985 A Survey of Modified Caryopses in the Gramineae Vol 72 American Journal of Botany p 943 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caryopsis amp oldid 1121174162, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
