How do dehiscent fruits release their seeds?

Dehiscent fruits release their seeds by splitting open at maturity as their pericarp dries. This process allows the seeds to be dispersed directly from the fruit, which may remain attached to the parent plant.12

The specific mechanism of release depends on the type of fruit:

• Follicles: These fruits, derived from a single carpel, split open along a single side.1
• Legumes: Also derived from a single carpel, these split along both sides.1
• Capsules: Derived from several united carpels, these release seeds in various ways. Some split longitudinally to expose seeds within each cavity or along the septa between them, while others form an operculum, or lid, at the top of the ovary.1

In some instances, seeds are forcefully ejected into the air by explosive capsules. In other cases, the fruit splits to reveal seeds that may dangle from the fruit by long stalks, often attracting animals that consume the fleshy, brightly colored portions and subsequently disperse the seeds.3