- Hesperidium
A hesperidium (plural hesperidia) is a modified
berry with a tough, leathery rind. The peel contains volatile oil glands in pits. The fleshy interior is composed of separate sections, calledcarpels , filled with fluid-filled vesicles that are actually specialized hair cells.The outer ovary wall becomes the thick spongy layer, while the inner ovary wall becomes very juicy with several seeds.
Oranges and othercitrus fruits are common examples.Unlike most other berries, the rind of hesperidia is generally not eaten with the fruit because they are tough and bitter. A common exception is the
kumquat which is consumed entirely.The outermost, pigmented layer of rind contains
essential oil s and is known as the "flavedo". When scraped off and used as a culinary ingredient it is called zest. The inner rind (known aspith or "albedo") of thecitron orlemon is candied insugar and calledsuccade .ee also
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Fruit anatomy
*Peel (fruit) References
* Bailey, H. and E. BAILEY. 1976. Hortus Third. Cornell University MacMillan. N.Y. p 275
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