What is the difference between kernels and seeds?

Answer

Dear Maxime,

you already sense that confusion arises here because one is and the other is not a scientific term.

Fruits usually consist of three layers: an outer, middle and inner layer. In scientific terms, these are called the exo, meso, and endokarp. Inside the fruit you will find the seeds (one or more).

A drupe is a scientific term for a fruit whose middle layer is fleshy (juicy), but the inner layer is hard. This last, hard layer then covers the seed.

Plums and cherries, for example, are stone fruits. First you have the thin skin: this is the outer layer (exokarp). Then you have the tasty pulp: this is the middle layer (mesokarp). Then you bump into the hard, inner layer (endokarp). Inside is the one seed.

A pit is a non-scientific term that basically means the hard endocarp of the drupe plus the seed inside.

So pit = endokarp + seed. Try breaking the pit of a cherry or plum. So the actual seed is in there!

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To answer your questions. It is true that kernels contain the seed of the plant. Stone fruits are not seeds (but they do contain them). A wick is not a scientific term, but it is a useful one for everyday use.