Akene
In Botanical, the akene (sometimes written achaine or achene ) is a dry Fruit, indéhiscent, with single Graine whose Péricarpe, more or less Sclérifié, is not welded with seed (with the difference of the Caryopse).
The term is formed on the Greek root kainein , to open, with the privative prefix has , in reference to the character indéhiscent of this fruit.
The akene results from the transformation of a single Carpelle. At the plants whose flowers comprise several carpelles (dyalicarpellées), the fruit is a polyakene, together of akenes carried by the floral Réceptacle. It is the case of the Renonculacée S for example. In certain cases, the floral receptacle also changes and gives a false fruit carrying akenes, it is the case of the strawberry. At the Bétulacée S (Bouleau, Aulne) whose flowers are grouped in kittens, the fruits are akenes grouped in kind of cones.
The akene is also the standard fruit of the Fagacée S: Faîne (Beech), Nipple (Oak), Sweet chestnut, whose flowers have a plurilocular ovary. In this case, the single seed results from the abortion of the not fertilized ovules.
Certain akenes carry outgrowths resulting from the transformation of the style. It is the case of the akene of the Astéracée S, which carries a brush of hairs being used for their dispersion by the wind, or of the akene of the Clématite S (Renonculacée S) which carries a long feathery style blanchâtre very visible in the hedges the winter.
When the akenes are provided with outgrowth in the shape of wings, one obtains Samare S (as at the Orme) or of the Disamare S (maple).
The Nucule S are the shape of akene where the wall of the fruit is very hard: it is the case for the Noisetier, the Chêne, the Tilleul.
See too
Zh-min-nan: Sò͘-kó
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