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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-stŏgə-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

Etymology

Origin of cleistogamous

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Every plant which bears cleistogamous or blind flowers - violets, wood-sorrel, jewelweed, among others - must also display some showy ones.

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

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)

Amphicarpum, native in the south-eastern United States, has fertile cleistogamous spikelets on filiform runners at the base of the culm, those on the terminal panicle are sterile.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 3 "Gordon, Lord George" to "Grasses" by Various

In other cases precautions are taken to prevent cross-fertilisation, as in the numerous cleistogamous or closed flowers.

From Darwinism (1889) by Wallace, Alfred Russel

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

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