noun
- a short, broad silique that is typically less than twice as long as it is wide, found in certain plants of the mustard family
Usage: botanical
Examples
- The shepherd’s purse produces a distinctive heart-shaped silicula.
- Botanists use the shape of the silicula to identify different species in the Brassicaceae family.
- Each silicula contains several small seeds arranged in two chambers.
- The silicula splits open when mature to release the seeds.
- Field guides often illustrate the various silicula shapes to aid in plant identification.