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pericarp

pericarp
Noun
pl: pericarps

This term is a specialized botanical descriptor used primarily in scientific and academic contexts to describe the structural anatomy of a fruit. It evokes a precise image of a protective boundary that encapsulates the seed, emphasizing the biological function of shielding the developing embryo.

Because it is a technical term, it is rarely encountered in casual conversation, appearing instead in textbooks, research papers, or horticultural guides. It serves as an umbrella term that allows botanists to categorize the distinct layers of a fruit wall, such as the skin and the pulp, under a single anatomical heading.

Meanings

Nounpericarp

The wall of a ripened ovary in a flowering plant, consisting of the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp.

The pericarp of a peach consists of a thin skin and a fleshy middle layer.

Examples

The pericarp of a drupe is divided into three distinct layers.

School Life

Look at how the pericarp thickens as the fruit matures.

School Life

In a nut, the pericarp is typically hard and woody.

Trivia

I wonder if the pericarp of this rare species is edible.

The student carefully labeled the exocarp as the outer part of the pericarp.

School Life

A fleshy mesocarp is a key feature of the pericarp in many berries.

Trivia

Does the pericarp protect the seed from environmental stress?

School Life

The thin pericarp of the tomato allows it to be easily crushed.

Gourmet

The researcher analyzed the chemical composition of the pericarp.

Related Words

exocarpmesocarpendocarpovaryseedfruitbotany
Last Updated: May 2026Report an Error