|
|
The fruit develops from the base of ovary, containing developing
seeds after pollination and fertilization has occurred.
Fruits are a continuation of the flower structure.
(In contrast, the term "vegetable" used in the strict botanic sense, refers only to the vegetative parts of the plant; the ROOT, STEM, and LEAF. Therefore lettuce,celery and carrots are true botanical vegetables, while tomatoes, green peppers and squash are botanical fruits. They are fruits because they develop from the flower and have seeds.)
I. The main functions of fruits are to protect and disperse seeds for reproduction. The seed's function is to form the next generation of plants.
II. Dispersal takes place by different means.
A. Wind-dispersed fruits may have fluff or tiny "wings." For example, plumeria are winged and stephanotis seeds have fluff. Dandelion and milkweed are examples from temperate climates..B. Water-dispersed fruit are floatable and resistant to damage from immersion, especially in salt water. Examples are coconut, Niu, (Cocos nucifera) (Click here for a picture and description of niu) and beach Naupaka kahakai
(Scaevola sericea) fruits.
C. Animal-dispersed fruits stick to hair, fur or wings, or mud on feet of water birds. Characteristics are as follows:
a. Have stickiness, sharp barbs, or hooks like native Nohu
Clidemia |
b. Spread by eating and droppings, the way the noxious weed in Hawaiian forest, Koster's Curse (Clidemia hirta) is spread. |
Ohelo |
c. Are bright colored, like the non-native Kahili ginger
(Hedychium gardnerianum) or pleasant-tasting,
like the native 'Ohelo
berry (Vaccinium sp.). |
D. Other means of dispersal include:
a. In the impatiens plant, the fruit dries out, sections of the capsule
twist back,and seeds are forcefully ejected.
Koli'i capsules |
b. Shaking from openings in the dry fruit is found
in pua kala,
the Hawaiian poppy (Argemone glauca) is one example.
The native lobelioid found on the Wai'anae Mountains called koli'i (Trematolobelia macrostachys) has dried fruit which develops into a salt shaker-like structure which is shaken by the wind and scatters the small seeds. |
c. Human activity, like raising domestic animals, probably accounts
for dispersal of a number of weeds and grasses in Hawaii. They could have
come with cattle and animal feed.
| [1 ] | [2 ] | [3 ] | [4 ] | [5 ] | [6 ] | [7 ] | [8 ] | [9 ] | [10 ] |
| [11 ] | [12 ] | [13 ] | [14 ] | [15 ] | [16 ] | [17 ] | [18 ] | [19 ] | [20 ] |
| [21 ] | [22 ] | [23 ] | [24 ] | [25 ] | [26 ] | [27 ] | [28 ] | [29 ] | [30 ] |
