Definition
cypsela
noun
- A small, dry, one-seeded fruit that does not open naturally at maturity, produced by plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Usage: botanical term; also called an achene in some contexts
Examples
- The sunflower produces cypeselae that are commonly eaten as seeds.
- Each cypsela from a dandelion flower is equipped with a parachute-like structure for wind dispersal.
- Botanists classify the fruit of a daisy as a cypsela rather than a true seed.
- The cypsela is characteristic of the Asteraceae family, which includes asters, chrysanthemums, and thistles.