or DRUPPA, in botany, a species of pepericarpium, or seed-vessel, which is succulent or pulpy, has no valve or external opening like the capsule and pod, and contains within its substance a stone or nut. The cherry, plum, peach, apricot, and all other stone-fruit, are of this kind.

The term, which is of great antiquity, is synonymous to Tournefort's fructus mollis officulo, "soft fruit with a stone;" and to the prunus of other botanists.

The stone, or nut, which, in this species of fruit, is surrounded by the soft pulpy flesh, is a kind of ligneous or woody cup, which contains a single kernel or seed.

This definition, however, will not apply to every seed-vessel denominated drupa in the Genera Plantarum. The almond is a drupa, so is the seed-vessel of the elm-tree and the genus rambia; though far from being pulpy or succulent, the first and third are of a substance like leather, the second like parchment. The same may be said of the walnut, pistachio-nut, guettarda, quifqualis, jack-in-a-box, and some others.

Again, the seeds of the elm, fieberbora, flagellaria, and the mango-tree, are not contained in a stone. The seed-vessel of burr-reed is dry, shaped like a top, and contains two angular stones.

This species of fruit, or more properly seed-vessel, is commonly roundish, and, when seated below the calyx or receptacle of the flower, is furnished, like the apple, at the end opposite to the foot-stalk, with a small umbilicus or cavity, which is produced by the swelling of the fruit before the falling off of the flower-cup.