Dehiscence
Roll the mouse over a picture to see the full resolution image.
Dehiscence in seed capsules/fruiting bodies generally occurs along predetermined lines (as in anthers). These are clearly visible in C. tomasinianus (blue arrow) running longitudinally down the capsule which dehisces immediately upon ripening.
In some species, capsule dehiscence is delayed - probably to avoid premature germination. Iris foetidissima is an example: the seed capsule dries and dehisces in the late autumn. In this case, the exposed seeds are initially retained rather than scattered. It is mainly for this feature that the I. foetidissima is grown, the flowers being fairly uninspiring.
The capsule of Lilium also dehisces during the autumn and winter. Figs. a & b (the same capsule from different angles) show that unlike I foetidissima, it is fairly rigid structure that dehisces only partially, exposing the seeds and allowing them to be scattered gradually.
