cleistogamous

American  

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

Also cleistogamic

adjective

Botany.

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

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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.

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of cleistogamous

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

Example Sentences

These cleistogamous flowers afford a striking example of habitual self-pollination, and H. von Mohl drew special attention to them as such shortly after the appearance of Darwin's Orchid book.

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

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

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

In England, where this jewel-weed is rapidly becoming naturalized, Darwin recorded there are twenty plants producing cleistogamous flowers to one having showy blossoms which, even when produced, seldom set seed.

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

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 Gray, Asa

Capsule prismatic or elongated-oblong, 3-celled, opening by 3 small lateral valves.—Low annuals, with axillary blue or purplish flowers, in American species dimorphous, the earlier being cleistogamous.

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 Gray, Asa