adjective
- not opening naturally at maturity to release seeds or spores
Usage: botanical
Examples
- The acorn is an indehiscent fruit that does not split open when ripe.
- Unlike pea pods, indehiscent fruits remain closed to protect their seeds.
- Botanists classify nuts as indehiscent because they don’t open naturally.
- The maple’s winged seeds develop in indehiscent fruits called samaras.
- Indehiscent capsules require external force to release their contents.
- Many fleshy fruits are indehiscent, relying on animals for seed dispersal.