noun
- Plural of caryopsis; a type of simple dry fruit in which the seed coat is fused to the fruit wall, characteristic of grasses and cereals.
Usage: botanical term; also called a grain
Examples
- Wheat, rice, and corn produce caryopses as their fruits.
- The caryopses of grasses are adapted for wind dispersal.
- Botanists classify the fruits of cereal crops as caryopses.
- Each caryopsis contains a single seed tightly enclosed by the fruit wall.
- The structure of caryopses makes them ideal for long-term storage.