Definition

Noun: A silicle is a type of short, broad seedpod (silique) that is typically as broad as, or broader than, it is long. It is a dry, dehiscent fruit characteristic of some plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae).

Usage

The term is used specifically in botany to describe and classify the fruit morphology of certain cruciferous plants. It distinguishes a short, rounded pod from the more common elongated silique.

Examples

• The shepherd's purse () produces distinctive heart-shaped silicles.
• Under the microscope, you can observe the septum dividing the silicle into two chambers.
• Botanists noted that the plant's fruit was a silicle, not a silique, which helped in its identification.

Advanced Usage

• Comparative Morphology: In botanical keys, the ratio of length to width is critical for distinguishing a silicle (length less than three times the width) from a silique (length more than three times the width).

Variants and Related Words

• Silique (noun): The related, longer, and narrower seedpod from which the term is derived. It is the more common fruit type in the Brassicaceae family.
• Silicula: An alternative, less common term for .

Synonyms

• Short silique
• Broad pod (in a botanical context)

Different Meanings

The word silicle has no other common meanings outside its specific botanical definition.

Noun

1. short broad silique occurring in some cruciferous plants