indehiscent

adjective

(L. in-: prefix having a privative force; dehiscere: to open, gape, crack) Describing a fruit or fruiting body that does not open to release its seeds or spores when ripe, instead, release occurs when the fruit wall decays or, if eaten by an animal, is digested; lacking distinct opening mechanism, as spores shed by irregular rupture or breakdown of capsule wall, e.g. Archidium. Cf. dehiscent.