loculicidale

Loculidale, or loculicidal dehiscence, is a mode of fruit dehiscence seen in some dry capsule fruits of flowering plants. In this pattern, the capsule opens along the walls of its locules—the compartments formed within the ovary—so that seeds are released as the locule walls peel away. The rupture typically follows a longitudinal suture and may originate at the apex or along the locule, leaving parts of the outer fruit wall intact.

Loculicidal dehiscence is contrasted with septicidal dehiscence, in which the capsule splits along the septa between locules rather than along the locule walls. The exact opening pattern can vary among species: some capsules expose one or multiple openings as they dry, and the method of seed release can influence dispersal by wind, gravity, or contact with animals.

This dehiscence pattern is an important character in fruit morphology and plant taxonomy, helping to distinguish genera and species in floras that describe capsule fruit types. The term loculicidal is used across languages in botanical descriptions, with loculicidale serving as the equivalent in Italian. Understanding loculicidal dehiscence contributes to studies of plant reproductive biology and seed dispersal strategies, as the way a fruit opens affects how seeds enter the environment.