achene

Pronunciation key ( ā-kēn′ )

a•chene

n.

[Gk. a-, not, + chainein to gape].

Any small, dry fruit with a single seed whose thin outer coat (pericarp) does not burst when ripe.

References

Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955