serotinous

American  

[suh-raht-in-uhs] / səˈrɑt ɪn əs /

adjective

1. Botany. delaying the release of seeds until triggered by particular environmental conditions, as in the case of certain conifers or their cones, some of which require the heat of a wildfire or forest fire to open.

2. Botany. occurring, developing, or flowering relatively late.

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serotinous Scientific  

/ sĭ-rŏt′n-əs,sĕr′ə-tī′nəs /

1. Late in developing, opening, or blooming. For example, serotinous pine cones may persist unopened on the tree for years and only burst open during a forest fire. Serotinous flowers on trees develop only after the tree has produced leaves.

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Other Word Forms

• non-serotinous adjective
• serotiny noun

Example Sentences

Their serotinous cones, coated in a sticky resin, can’t open and spread their seeds without it.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2024

Some pine trees have developed thick cones, known as serotinous cones, that are glued shut with a strong resin.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2022

The giant sequoia cones are serotinous, which means that they don’t open and release seed unless subjected to heat.

From Scientific American • Jul. 15, 2022

Some lodgepole pinecones are serotinous: they open and release seeds only when activated by the heat generated by fires.

From Time Magazine Archive

Among the Insignes are a few species with symmetrical cones, and two with cones that are rarely, if ever, serotinous.

From The Genus Pinus by Shaw, George Russell