Pericarp

In many fleshy fruits, the pericarp is divided into three distinct layers, each with a specific role:

The outermost skin or peel of the fruit. It acts as a protective barrier against physical damage and pests. pericarp

The middle layer, which is usually the thick, fleshy, and edible part we eat in fruits like mangoes or peaches. In some fruits, like citrus, this is the white, spongy "pith". In many fleshy fruits, the pericarp is divided

The innermost layer that directly surrounds the seeds. This layer can be soft (as in grapes) or hard and "stony" (as in the pit of a cherry or plum). Functions at a Glance In many fleshy fruits