Aril
A fleshy aril surrounds each seed in this European yew
An
aril is a fruit-like structure (called a
false-fruit) produced by a few species of gymnosperms, notably the yews of the Family
Taxaceae. Instead of having a cone-like structure as is typical of most gymnosperms, the reproductive structure of the yew consists of a single seed surrounded by a fleshy, cup-like covering, about the size of a large
pea. In the photograph of a European yew (
Taxus baccata), note that the aril starts out as a small, green band at the base of the seed (far left), then turns brown to red as it enlarges and surrounds the seed, eventually becoming fleshy and scarlet in color at maturity. The aril is attractive to birds and non-toxic (all other parts of the yew are toxic), serving therefore to promote dispersal of the seed by birds.
In the juniper (Family Cupressaceae), the cone-like reproductive structure has fleshy scales that grow together, forming a berry-like structure about the size of a pea, and blue at maturity.
