mesocarp
/'mesoukɑ:p/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The middle layer of a pericarp: In botany, the "mesocarp" is specifically the middle, often fleshy, layer of the pericarp (the wall of a fruit). It is located between the outer skin (exocarp) and the inner layer surrounding the seeds (endocarp).
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The juicy, edible part of a peach is primarily the mesocarp.
- Botanists study the thickness and texture of the mesocarp in different fruit species.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical description: The term is used in precise scientific classification to describe fruit anatomy.
- The development of the mesocarp is a key factor in determining the fruit's succulence.
Variants and Related Words
- Pericarp (n): The part of a fruit formed from the wall of the ripened ovary. The mesocarp is one of its three layers.
- Exocarp (n): The outermost layer of the pericarp; the skin or peel.
- Endocarp (n): The innermost layer of the pericarp, often hard and stony, that surrounds the seed(s).
Synonyms
- Middle layer (of a fruit): A descriptive, non-technical synonym.
- Sarcocarp: A less common, more specific term sometimes used synonymously with "mesocarp," especially when referring to the fleshy part.
Related Terms (Contextual)
- Fruit anatomy: A field of study where this term is commonly used alongside exocarp, endocarp, seed, and pulp.
Noun
- the middle layer of a pericarp