Fruit anatomy Fruit anatomy Fruit anatomy is the plant anatomy of the internal structure of fruit. Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. In fleshy fruits, the outer layer (which is often edible) is the "pericarp", which is the tissue that develops from the ovary wall of the flower and surrounds the seeds. But in some seemingly pericarp fruits, the edible portion is not derived from the ovary. For example, in the fruit of the ackee tree the edible portion is an aril, and in the pineapple several tissues from the flower and stem are involved. The
Thelenota ananas over the surface of its body. It has numerous large tubed feet on its flat underside as well. This type of sea cucumber is edible and is considered a delicacy in the Far East countries. Due to intense commercial exploitation, the population of "T. ananas" has declined by 80-90% in at least 50% of its range; it is listed as endangered by IUCN. The worm pearlfish ("Encheliophis vermicularis") is a parasite of this species and each parasitised individual will host a male and female pair of the fish which live inside its body. Thelenota ananas Thelenota ananas, also known as