serotinous

1. Late in developing, opening, or blooming. For example, serotinous pine cones may persist unopened on the tree for years and only burst open during a forest fire. Serotinous flowers on trees develop only after the tree has produced leaves.

Example Sentences

Their serotinous cones, coated in a sticky resin, can’t open and spread their seeds without it.

Read more on Salon

Some pine trees have developed thick cones, known as serotinous cones, that are glued shut with a strong resin.

Read more on New York Times

The giant sequoia cones are serotinous, which means that they don’t open and release seed unless subjected to heat.

Read more on Scientific American

Lodgepole pinecones are serotinous, which means they’re sealed with wax that only open and release seeds with high heat.

Read more on Washington Times

Like some eucalypts, this pine tree, common in California, is “serotinous”, meaning it has adapted to fire.

Read more on The Guardian