or DRUPPA, in Botany, a species of prunus or feed-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 feed-vessel denominated drupa in the Genera Plantarum. The almond is a drupa, so is the feed-vessel of the elm tree and the genus rumphio, 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, pistachia nut, guettarda, quinquilis, jack-in-a-box, and some others.

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

This species of fruit, or more properly feed-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 footstalk, with a small umbilicus or cavity, which is produced by the swelling of the fruit before the falling off of the flower-cup.