In this lab students will use a dichotomous key to classify fruits as fleshy (and their category) or Dry (and their category). In addition the student will complete lab exercise 19.
At the end of this lab the successful student will be able to Classify the fruits from our lab. Remember, A Fruit botanically speaking is any ovary and its accessory parts that have developed and matured. It also usually contains seeds. So, by definition many of the vegetables you will be observing in this lab are really fruits. Examples you will see include Tomatoes, cucumbers and squash.
Here are the "raw ingredients" for our fruits and flowers lab. There are
actually two flowers here. Can you find them both? Students come to
the main table and take the things they think they will need to demonstrate
their ability to classify fruits. Then they measure, cut, and make
diagrams in their lab notebooks. Below are samples of ways the groups of
students set up their group's work area for the task.
So,
Here is the Lab you will be working on. This is a presentation of the
Mature Fruit both Fleshy and dry. Remember these fruits are derived from
flowers that were fertilized and bore these fruits. In essence you
are working backward toward the floral arrangement of the fruits you will be
presented with.
Notice that after they group had classified the fruit, some students enjoyed
"disposing" of their "specimen".
Carefully
observe this peach. Draw this in your notebook and list the
characteristics that place it as a "drupe". Go back to the flower
drawing on page 130 of your text and make sure you understand these
characteristics. 
Again
referencing your text Ch 8 p.132. This fruit is fleshy and develops
from a flower with a single pistil. The bulk of flesh comes from an
enlarged floral tube that grows up around the ovary.
Observe
these grapes while studying your dicotomous key. Grapes are classified as
"simple" and "fleshy". They are a True berry because:
The
Tomato is also "botanically speaking" a True Berry because
Now
on to the Banana
This
is a berry with a leathery skin containing oils yet still a simple fleshy
fruit.Return to Simple Fleshy Fruits Return to Top
These
are complex fruits (from more than one ovary). Note the fruits
here are from many carpels on a single flower. You are observing
the strawberry yet note this is also true of a raspberry and blackberry
These
fruits are from carpels of many flowers fused together in single
florescence. The flowers mature separately into fruitlets then
develop together into a single larger fruitThese are fruits whose "mesocarp" is dry at maturity. The above fruits you have observed had fleshy mesocarps
These
are Legumes that split along two sides or seamsThese are dry, single seeds that unite with the pericarp
Continue to classify and place the notes and drawings in your lab notebook
Now
is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Add a bit of cake and
whip cream to your aggregate fruit and you will enjoy strawberry
shortcake!
With
the practice and review of ALL your dicotomy you have placed in your
notebook you will be ready to advance to the quiz!Practice by Memory
Can you Identify these fruits by
If you can, you are ready to advance to the quiz.
FOR EXAMPLE what I am looking for as an answer to the first fruit given above, peach, is
You will be held responsible for all of the fruits shown as well as the questions 1-6 from review questions Lab 19 in your lab manual as well as all 10 questions from the quiz for lab 19.
Last modified:
October 08, 2004 by
Cynthia Herbrandson 
© Copyright 1999, Kellogg Community College.
All rights reserved.