Question

Carcerulus has many

• A. Cocci
• B. Achenes
• C. Mericarps
• D. Mesocarps

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Mericarps

The correct option is C.

Explanation for the correct option:

1. Carpels having one seed are known as mericarp.
2. Carcerulus is a schizocarpic fruit.
3. It has many mericarps or single-seeded indehiscent compartments.
4. One of the pairs split apart at maturity.
5. The fruit develops from a bi-carpellary, syncarpous, inferior ovary.
6. It then splits into two one-seeded segments called mericarps.
7. Mericarps are dry fruits that have multiple carpels.
8. Mericarp may contain one or more seeds.

Explanation for the incorrect options:

Option A:

1. Cocci are the dehiscent mericarps.
2. They are the fruits that separate from the axis in a septicidal manner.
3. They are dry fruits whose one part breaks into one-seeded segments.

Option B:

1. Achene is a simple dry fruit.
2. It is one-seeded but lacks special seams that split to release the seed.
3. It is an indehiscent fruit having its seed attached to the pericarp at a single point.

Option D:

1. Mesocarp is the middle layer of pericarp lying between endocarp and exocarp.
2. They are made of parenchymatous cells.
3. Mesocarp is the edible part of the fruit as in mango.

Final answer: Therefore calculus has many mericarps.