In Botanical, a drupe is a fleshy Fruit with core, like the Cerise, the Abricot, the Olive or the micocoule (fruit of the Micocoulier). It is resulting from a Pistil with single Carpelle, standard “infère” not member. In the case of flowers with several carpelles free, one obtains a made up fruit or polydrupe, the such Mûre of the Ronce. It is in general indéhiscent (although the déhiscence is not necessary in the case of a fleshy fruit whose flesh breaks up quickly, releasing the core).

The drupes provide many edible fruits.

Structure of a drupe

The drupe is characterized by a Péricarpe composed of a fleshy part (the sarcocarpe) and of a sclerified part thus lasts (the sclérocarpe).

The first constitutes the flesh, part edible of these fruits, but not always: in the case of the Juglandacée S (like nut), the pericarp called “husks” is inedible. In the same way, the green envelope of almond is not edible.

The second, drifting of the endocarpe (internal skin of the Carpelle) which becomes “osseous”, sclerous or cartilagineux, form the wall of the core containing the Graine. In certain cases, the edible part is the seed (Noix, Amande)

When the endocarpe remains fleshy, a bay is obtained (the Datte is a bay in spite of its resemblance to olive).

According to the structure of the original ovary, one distinguishes from the drupes monospermes (the most general case) and from the drupes polyspermes (the “cherry” of the Caféier is a drupe containing two cores).

Drupes made up or drupéoles

Certain fruits, formed of small multiples drupes, or “drupéoles” agglomerated, are polydrupes. It is the case of the Framboise S and of the Mûre S. Danslecasde the fruits of the kind Rubus (raspberries, blackberries of Ronce), the fruit is resulting from a single flower whose pistil is made of free multiples carpelles. The blackberries of Mulberry tree, very resembling bramble blackberries are, on the other hand, resulting from Inflorescence S compact in kittens, each drupéole resulting from a different flower.

Example of drupes

• the Cherry, the plum, the Apricot, the fishing
• the Nut, the almond, the Pecan nut
• the Olive
• the “cherry” of Coffee
• the mango
• the Safou

Example of drupéoles

• the Raspberry, the Ripe (of bramble), the Apple and the Poire are complex fruits, sometimes compared to made up drupes (drifting of several carpelles).

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