pericarp
/ˈpɛrɪˌkɑrp/
noun
- The part of a fruit that develops from the ovary wall and surrounds the seeds, including the skin, flesh, and sometimes a hard inner layer.
- The pericarp of a coconut is thick and fibrous, helping it float across the ocean.
- Botanists study the pericarp to understand how fruits protect and disperse their seeds.
- In a peach, the pericarp consists of the fuzzy skin, the juicy flesh, and the hard pit.