cleistogamy
Quick Summary
Cleistogamy refers to the production of small, inconspicuous flowers that do not open and are self-pollinating. These flowers are often more fruitful than the showier, open-pollinating flowers found on the same plant. This phenomenon is observed in plants like violets and pansies.12
In contrast, chasmogamy describes flowers that open at maturity for fertilization, which is typical for most flowers. Self-pollination, or autogamy, occurs when an egg cell is fertilized by pollen from the same flower or plant. Cross-pollination, or heterogamy, involves pollen from a different plant individual. While self-pollination is reliable in stable environments, cross-pollination offers evolutionary advantages by promoting genetic diversity and increasing the chances of species survival in changing conditions.34
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
plant breedingMating systems…the flowers to open (cleistogamy), as in certain violets. In barley, wheat, and lettuce the pollen is shed before or just as the flowers open, and in the tomato pollination follows opening of the flower, but the stamens form a cone around the stigma. In such species there is…
Read More…the flowers to open (cleistogamy), as in certain violets. In barley, wheat, and lettuce the pollen is shed before or just as the flowers open, and in the tomato pollination follows opening of the flower, but the stamens form a cone around the stigma. In such species there is…
Read More
pollinationMechanisms that permit self-pollinationSome of these plants are cleistogamous, meaning that the flowers fail to open, an extreme way of ensuring self-pollination. A similar process is apomixis, the development of an ovule into a seed without fertilization. Apomixis is easily demonstrated in lawn dandelions, which produce seeds even when stamens and styles are…
Read MoreSome of these plants are cleistogamous, meaning that the flowers fail to open, an extreme way of ensuring self-pollination. A similar process is apomixis, the development of an ovule into a seed without fertilization. Apomixis is easily demonstrated in lawn dandelions, which produce seeds even when stamens and styles are…
Read More
FabalesCharacteristic morphological features…open, thus enforcing self-pollination (cleistogamous). In the chasmogamous flowers, the sepals are most commonly partly fused, and the five petals alternate in position with the sepals. There are commonly 10 stamens, but there may be fewer or more. The stamens may remain free or they may be fused into…
Read More…open, thus enforcing self-pollination (cleistogamous). In the chasmogamous flowers, the sepals are most commonly partly fused, and the five petals alternate in position with the sepals. There are commonly 10 stamens, but there may be fewer or more. The stamens may remain free or they may be fused into…
Read More
MyrtalesNatural history…mature flowers remaining closed (cleistogamy), occurs in Ammannia and is thought to occur in the apetalous species of Rotala, Lythrum, and Nesaea.
Read More…mature flowers remaining closed (cleistogamy), occurs in Ammannia and is thought to occur in the apetalous species of Rotala, Lythrum, and Nesaea.
Read More