Question

Fruit of Elephant Apple (Dillenia Indica) is
A. Balausta
B. Pepo
C. Amphisarca
D. Berry

Answer 1

A mature ovary which is edible is called a fruit. A species of Dellenia called Dillenia indica is native to tropical Asia and China. Dillenia indica produces a hard fruit that is edible.

Complete answer:
Dillenia indica is also called elephant apple. The fruit of elephant apples is Amphisarca. It is one of the special types of berries that occur in nature. It is multilocular with many-seeded superior berries. The edible part of the fruit is the endocarp of the placenta that is pulpy. The middle part of the fruit called the mesocarp is fibrous and the outer part that is the epicarp is woody in nature. Balausta is a type of berry which is known as pseudo berry or false fruit. In this fruit syncarpous pistil is formed by the fusion of two rows of carpels. The hard rind which is made up of exocarp and some parts of mesocarp covers the whole fruit. The infolding which appears as plate-like is also made up of mesocarp. The endocarp covers the individual seed and is pappery in structure. An example of Balausta is pomegranate. A type of berry in which exocarp does not separate from mesocarp and seeds do not separate from the placenta is called a pepo. Examples of pepo fruit are pumpkin, melon, and guard. The fleshy pericarp in berries is differentiated into 3 parts. They are named mesocarp, endocarp, and epicarp.
So, option C is the correct option.

Note: The fruit pulp of elephant apple is sour in taste and is used in many Indian cuisines especially in curries. It is also used in the preparation of jams and jellies. The branches of Dillenia indica are used to make good quality firewood.