Term:

Indehiscent fruit

Definition:

Referring to a fruit that does not open via an operculum.

Notes:

Indehiscent fruits are found in species of Couroupita, Grias, Gustavia, and some species of Lecythis. The fruit of the Brazil nut is a special case. It is dehiscent but the opercular opening is smaller in size than the size of the seeds which remain trapped inside when the fruits fall to the ground. This type of dehiscence is called functionally indehiscent.