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Glite Dictionary
pericarp

pericarp

9.8
Part of a fruit that surrounds and protects the seeds
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛrɪˌkɑrp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pericarpo
  • The pericarp protects the seeds of the fruit and provides nutrients as the fruit develops.

Examples

  • Small kernels, each with a hard shell called a pericarp, and some varieties had a fantastic feature.

  • The fleshy pericarp of the peach surrounds the pit, making it a delicious summer fruit.

  • A banana's pericarp is soft and edible, contributing to its popular appeal among consumers.

Surface Forms

pericarp singular
pericarps plural

Morphology

pericarp = carp (opaque) = peri + carp

The elements are technical combining forms used in botanical terminology and are not familiar productive English morphemes for an average learner, so the meaning is not transparently recoverable.

Etymology

Pericarp comes from Greek parts peri- ('around') and karpos ('fruit'), and peri- is the same 'around' you see in perimeter. So the pericarp is the part that forms the wall around and protects the seed.