cleistogamous

American  

[klahy-stog-uh-muhs] / klaɪˈstɒg ə məs /

Also cleistogamic

adjective

Botany.

1. pertaining to or having pollination occurring in unopened flowers.

---

cleistogamous Scientific  

/ klī-stŏg′ə-məs /

1. Of or relating to a flower that does not open and is self-pollinated in the bud. The fertile flowers of the violet are inconspicuous and cleistogamous, while the plant's more familiar showy flowers are usually infertile.

---

Other Word Forms

• cleistogamy
  noun
• noncleistogamic
  adjective
• noncleistogamous
  adjective
• cleistogamically
  adverb
• cleistogamously
  adverb

---

Etymology

Origin of cleistogamous

First recorded in 1880–85; cleisto- + -gamous

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cleistogamous

His view that cleistogamous flowers are derived from originally chasmogamous flowers has been confirmed by more recent researches.

From Darwin and Modern Science by A. C. (Albert Charles) Seward

Every plant which produces these cleistogamous or bud-fertilized flowers bears also more conspicuous and open flowers, usually of bright colors.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Asa Gray

Only 1–2´ high, bearing 1 or 2 evidently cleistogamous purplish flowers, not larger than a pin's head; capsule becoming 1´´ long.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Asa Gray

Some of the plants with cleistogamous flowers might afford examples of such cases.

From Darwin and Modern Science by A. C. (Albert Charles) Seward

In addition to its showy blossoms, which so successfully invite insects to transfer their pollen, thereby counteracting the bad effects of close inbreeding, the plant bears inconspicuous cleistogamous or blind ones also.

From Wild Flowers An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors by Neltje Blanchan

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---