1. of or relating to a flower that pollinates and produces seeds without opening its petals
Usage: botanical term; also spelled cleistogamic

Examples

• Cleistogamous flowers remain closed during pollination, ensuring self-fertilization.
• Some plant species produce both cleistogamous and open flowers depending on environmental conditions.
• The violet exhibits cleistogamous reproduction in addition to its showy open flowers.
• Cleistogamous flowers are an adaptation that guarantees seed production even without insect pollinators.
• Botanists study cleistogamous plants to understand reproductive strategies in flowering species.