capsulefruit

Capsulefruit is a term used in botany to describe a dry, dehiscent fruit that opens at maturity to release seeds. It develops from a compound ovary composed of two or more fused carpels, and the resultant pericarp typically dries and splits along defined seams to liberate the seeds.

Capsulefruit can dehisce in several ways. Loculicidal capsules split along the walls of the locules, septifragal capsules open along the septa between locules, and circumscissile capsules open by a lid that falls away. Some species exhibit irregular dehiscence or retain the seeds until environmental triggers such as wind or disturbance aid dispersal. Because capsulefruit is a structural category rather than a single taxonomic group, it occurs across diverse plant families.

Common examples include the capsules of poppies (Papaveraceae), which are often spherical and multi-seeded; capsules of many iris species (Iridaceae), which are typically elongated and multi-chambered; and capsules formed by various lilies (Liliaceae) and related groups, which can be multi-chambered and split in characteristic patterns.

Capsulefruit is contrasted with fleshy fruits (such as berries and drupes) and with other dry indehiscent fruits (such as nuts and achenes). It provides a framework for understanding seed dispersal strategies, morphology, and plant reproductive biology across a wide range of plant lineages.