pericarpand

Pericarpand is not a recognized term in botanical literature. It does not refer to a defined anatomical structure and is likely a typographical error, a misreading, or a neologism used in a specific text. When encountered, readers should rely on the surrounding context to deduce the intended meaning, since standard references do not list pericarpand as a separate entity.

Pericarp is the botanical term for the wall of a fruit, developing from the ovary after fertilization. It typically comprises three layers: the exocarp (outer skin), the mesocarp (often the fleshy middle layer), and the endocarp (inner layer that can be hard or thin). The pericarp protects the developing seed and often forms the edible portion of the fruit in fleshy types.

Fruit forms vary in how the pericarp develops and becomes edible. In many drupes, the endocarp forms a hard stone that encloses the seed, while the exocarp and mesocarp make up the outer fruit; in berries, the whole pericarp is fleshy; in pomes, the pericarp forms part of the core and is surrounded by receptacle tissue that becomes the edible portion.

In botany, terminology around fruit walls centers on the pericarp, with subdivisions into exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp being diagnostic for fruit classification. If encountering the term "pericarpand" in literature, treat it as nonstandard and verify the intended meaning with the source.

See also: pericarp, endocarp, exocarp, mesocarp, fruit anatomy.