1. the outermost layer of a fruit wall or pericarp
Usage: botanical

Examples

• The epicarp of an apple is the waxy outer skin we see and touch.
• In citrus fruits, the epicarp contains oil glands that give the peel its fragrance.
• The epicarp protects the inner layers of the fruit from damage and moisture loss.
• Botanists study the epicarp to understand fruit development and classification.
• The colorful epicarp of many fruits helps attract animals for seed dispersal.
• In grapes, the epicarp is covered with a natural waxy coating called bloom.