dehiscence

[ dih-his-uhns ]

noun

1. Biology. the release of materials by the splitting open of an organ or tissue.
2. Botany. the natural bursting open of capsules, fruits, anthers, etc., for the discharge of their contents.
3. Surgery. the bursting open of a surgically closed wound.

dehiscence

/ dĭ-hĭs′əns /

1. The spontaneous opening at maturity of a plant structure, such as a fruit, anther, or sporangium, to release its contents.
2. Compare indehiscence

Other Words From

• de·hiscent adjective
• nonde·hiscent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dehiscence¹

1820–30; < New Latin dēhiscentia, equivalent to Latin dēhiscent- stem of dēhiscēns, present participle of dēhiscere ( dehisce ) + -ia; -ence

Example Sentences

Nothing similar appears in the gray specimens of the present form, although the dehiscence is quite as certainly circumscissile.

From Project Gutenberg

Trees with furrowed bark; pulp surrounding nut continuous, without lines of dehiscence on the surface.

From Project Gutenberg

Fruit a large, bony, edible nut surrounded by a husk that has no regular dehiscence.

From Project Gutenberg

Regular Dehiscence in a capsule takes place in two ways, which are best illustrated in pods of two or three cells.

From Project Gutenberg

When the anther-lobes are erect, the cleft is lengthwise along the line of the suture—longitudinal dehiscence (fig. 25).

From Project Gutenberg