cleistogamy
/klaɪˈstɑɡəmi/
noun
- A type of self-pollination in which flowers never open, so the plant fertilizes itself without needing insects or wind.
- Cleistogamy helps certain plants survive in environments where insects are rare.
- Many violets use cleistogamy to produce seeds even when pollinators are scarce.
- The farmer noticed that the peanut plant relied on cleistogamy for most of its seed production.