schizocarpic

Schizocarpic refers to a type of dry fruit that, at maturity, splits into distinct one-seeded units called mericarps. The term comes from Greek schizein, “to split,” and karpos, “fruit.” A schizocarp develops from a syncarpous ovary with multiple locules; as the ovary dehisces, the fruit fragments along predetermined sutures so that each mericarp carries its own seed.

Most commonly observed in the carrot family (Apiaceae), schizocarps typically break into two or more mericarps that disperse separately. In many Apiaceae, the two mericarps separate with a visible remnant of the floral cup or central axis between them. Other plant groups can also produce schizocarps, and the term is used descriptively rather than to imply a single taxonomic lineage.

Ecological and evolutionary significance: the unit-fruit architecture can influence how seeds are dispersed and how germination opportunities are arranged over time. Mericarps may possess structures that aid dispersal by wind, water, or animals, though such adaptations vary among species.

Examples include Daucus carota (wild carrot) and Apium graveolens (celery). The schizocarp is a recognizable fruit type in botany for describing how certain dry fruits dehisce into distinct single-seeded parts, rather than remaining as a single indivisible fruit.