Fruchtknotens

Fruchtknotens is the genitive singular form of Fruchtknoten, a term in botany for the ovary of a flower. In German botanical usage, the Fruchtknoten contains the ovules and, after fertilization, develops into the fruit. The ovary is part of the pistil and is typically located centrally in the flower; its position relative to other floral parts can be described as superior or inferior.

Ovary structure varies among species. Some flowers have a simple ovary formed from a single organ, while others have multiple ovaries that fuse to form a syncarpous structure. The arrangement of locules (chambers) and the placenta tissue within the ovary influences fruit type and seed arrangement. After pollination, the ovary wall thickens and forms the pericarp, contributing to the fruit’s outer layer.

Fruchtknoten morphology influences the development and final form of the fruit, which can be dry (nut, capsule, follicle) or fleshy (berry, drupe). The same ovary can give rise to different fruit types depending on genetic factors and environmental conditions. In taxonomic descriptions and keys, the term Fruchtknoten or its genitive form des Fruchtknotens is used to refer to this reproductive organ without implying a specific fruit type.

Usage note: Fruchtknotens is not a separate technical term; it is the genitive form used in phrases like “die Struktur des Fruchtknotens.” In ordinary writing, one would use Fruchtknoten for the noun and des Fruchtknotens for the genitive. See also Fruchtknoten, Pistil, Ovary, Fruit.