Morpho-Histogenesis of Fruit Sculpture and Dehiscence in Thespesia populnea(L.) Soland (Malvaceae)

Morpho-histogenesis of fruit sculpture and dehiscence in Thespesia populnea is described. The fruit wall is differentiated into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp. The epicarp is stony, rind-like, 30 to 35 layers thick and derived from outer epidermis, sub-epidermis and ground parenchyma of the ovary wall. The spherical and/of tangentially elongated, thick walled cells of epicarp are interspersed with radial bands of sclereids. The mesocarp is a product of the inner zone of ground parenchyma. At maturity 20 to 25 layers of thin walled parenchyma of mesocarp appear sinuous of disorgnized. The innermost 1 to 3 layers of ground parenchyma and sub-epidermis and inner epidermis form 35 to 40 layers thick endocarp. Due to the differentiation of fibrous tissue in the projection of median plane of carpel wall and a complete ring of fibrous zone in the endocarp, the dry capsule of Thespesia populnea dehises partially in loculicidal fashion.