Fruits are an essential part of your diet. They are usually loaded with a variety of nutrients that are essential for adequate growth and development.
These seed-bearing structures develop from ripe ovaries and based on the number of ovaries involved in the process, they are classified into three major types. These are as follows;
- Simple Fruits
- Composite Fruits
- Compound Fruits
Simple fruits usually develop from a single matured ovary within a single flower like apples, bananas, plums, tomatoes, etc. Composite fruits are a result of inflorescence and are also called multiple fruits e.g. pineapple.
Finally, compound fruits develop from multiple ovaries residing within multiple flowers that have merged during the formation of the fruit. Some of the most common varieties of compound fruits include mulberries, ficus, raspberries, etc.
6 Example of a compound fruit
Here we provide you some striking details of these compound fruits. So, let’s have a look!
Mulberry
One of the most popular examples of a complex fruit is the mulberry fruit. The typical mulberry for silkworms is known as Morus alba. The tree is a large, evergreen, and deciduous one. Normally, the female flower is only 1-2 cm long and the male flower is 2-3.5 cm in length. The entire flowers and ovaries transform into compound fruit after pollination.
Mulberries are a beneficial source of iron, vitamin C, and several plant components. They have also been associated with reduced risk of cancer, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Although there is scant evidence to support their efficacy, these berries have been utilized for thousands of years in Chinese herbal medicine to cure a variety of ailments. They include high levels of carotenoids, vitamin E, and A, all of which have potent antioxidant qualities. These antioxidant capabilities may aid to lessen the impression of scars, maintain the skin soft, smooth and young, lessen age spots, and keep oxidative stress away.
Breadfruit
The family Moraceae includes the enormous monoecious tree known as breadfruit or Artocarpus altilis. The same tree contains flowers that are both male and female. The male flowers appear first and develop into capitula, which can only be pollinated for three days after that. A fake fruit with 1,500–2,000 flowers all at once is produced by the enlarged perianth. Thus, breadfruit presents a typical example of a compound fruit made up of many achenes.
This mushy, soft fruit-cum-veggie is wonderful when grilled, steamed, fried, baked, or barbecued! It also provides you with a lot of health benefits due to its high nutritional content. See more on benefits of breadfruit.
Breadfruits have always been looked upon to have a favorable influence, particularly when it comes to the health of your skin and hair!
Although breadfruit is used for a variety of ailments, including ear infections, back discomfort, wound healing, and arthritis, there isn’t any solid scientific proof to back these claims. It is a good source of omega fatty acids which are beneficial for keeping the heart healthy. The omega-3 fatty acid is particularly necessary for the development of the memory and brain. A growing child’s regular consumption of breadfruit can significantly aid in their brain’s growth.
Ficus
The genus Ficus usually referred to as the fig tree, is home to more than 850 different species and is a member of the Moraceae family. This contains several tiny blooms, each of which contains multiple ovaries and develops into fruit at different times. The ficus fruit is one of the most typical examples of a compound fruit a result.
It is a well-known medicinal plant in India that has been used for many years in Ayurveda to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions, such as hyperglycemia, liver disorders, diarrhea, inflammatory disorders, ulcers, and respiratory, and urinary illnesses. If you want to discover more, here, we cover in-depth the benefits of figs.
It has a long history of usage in traditional medicine for a variety of conditions affecting the respiratory, reproductive, digestive, and endocrine systems. Additionally, it is applied to urinary and digestive system infections.
Raspberry
Another typical example of a complex fruit is the raspberry. It belongs to the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family of roses. It is a fruit made up of about 100 drupelets that grow from numerous flower carpals during the same period of development. Each fruit has a solitary center seed and a luscious pulp inside.
Raspberries usually offer potassium, which is crucial for healthy heart function and has been shown to decrease blood pressure. Raspberries include omega-3 fatty acids that may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. They also include manganese, a mineral important for strong bones and skin as well as for controlling blood sugar. Both the fruit and the leaf of the red raspberry have long been used medicinally.
Red raspberry compounds may have antioxidant benefits and aid in relaxing blood arteries. Based on the dose and the affected muscle, they may also produce a contraction or relaxation of the muscles.
Blackberry
Blackberry is also a member of the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that blooms from late spring through early summer with white or pink flowers. The flower has five petals that are each about 2-3 cm long. The fruit grows after pollination by male gametes. Blackberry fruit is a compound form of fruit since it is made up of tiny droplets.
The fruit (berry), root, and leaf of the plant are all used to create medicine. There is no reliable scientific evidence to back up the use of blackberries for illnesses like diarrhea, water retention, hyperglycemia, gout, discomfort, edema, and throat irritation. Learn more: What are the Benefits of blackberry
Dewberry
Finally, we have dewberry on the list of compound fruit examples. It is also a member of the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The plant produces white flowers during the spring which eventually evolve into tiny green berries. The berry’s color changes from red to purple as it ripens. This fruit is compound because it is made up of several drops.
Dewberries can be found throughout northern Europe and North America. They can be consumed raw, baked into pies or cobblers, or preserved. It is all your choice now!