You may not realize it, but you probably see dry dehiscent fruits every day in your neighborhood, your local supermarket or even in your own kitchen. "Dry dehiscent" is simply a description of the way plants discharge their seeds, according to Fruits.com, and examples of dry dehiscent plants include eucalyptus, beans and horse chestnut. Some dry dehiscent plants are more specifically classified as follicles.
Types of Dry Dehiscent Fruit
The fruit is the part of the plant containing the seed or seeds. Types of fruits include Hespiridium, such as citrus fruits; pome, such as apples and pears; nuts, pepos and dehiscent fruits. The term “dehiscent” comes from the Latin for “to split,” and the seeds dry when their pod splits. Dry dehiscent fruits include legumes, including beans, peas and peanuts; capsules, such as cotton and eucalyptus; and follicles.
Follicle Fruit Background
A follicle is a dry dehiscent fruit with a single carpel, or leaf-like petal. When the fruit is ripe and ready to reproduce, the carpel of the follicle splits once to disperse seeds throughout the environment. Some examples of follicle fruits include magnolia, Asclepias species, or the milkweed species, Nigella sativa, also known as black seed or black cumin, and members of the buttercup family, such as delphiniums and columbines.
Distribution and Appearance
Different dry dehiscent fruits grow in different climates. Nigella sativa is native to Connecticut, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some species of milkweed, such as swamp, common and green comet, grow throughout most of the United States. In contrast, balloonplant is native only to Hawaii, Texas and Sperry’s milkweed are only native to Texas and serpentine milkweed is from California. Common milkweed is a perennial with purple flowers and bumps on its pods, according to the Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide. Its follicle fruits are in bloom from June to August.
Follicles and Health
Nigella sativa, or black cumin, may have beneficial antioxidant effects, such as protection from poisoning from fungus called aflatoxin, according to a study in the Journal of Applied Toxicology. Many follicle fruits may appear to be weeds, and columbine may cause allergic reactions. Healthinaging.org warns that not all plant-based supplements are necessarily safe. As an example, milkweed may interact with digoxin, a medication for congestive heart failure. Potential risks include increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure.
References
- Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide: Common Milkweed
- Journal of Applied Toxicology; Antioxidant Property of Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) and Syzgium Aromaticum (Clove) in Rats During Alfatoxicosis; M. Abdel-Wahhab and S.E. Aly
- Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America: Gardening with Allergies
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Asclepius L. (Milkweed)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin)
- Fruitsinfo.com: Dry Fruits
- Dictionary.Reference.com: Dehiscent Etymology
- CSBSJU.edu; Fruit Lab; Stephen Saupe
