Follicle
In
botany, a
follicle is a type of
simple dry fruit produced by certain
flowering plants. It is regarded as one the most primitive types of fruits, and derives from a simple
pistil or
carpel (see
flower). At maturity, the
follicle dehisces (splits open) along the ventral (seed-bearing) suture and the seeds are released, usually by mechanical motion of the stem. Examples of follicles are found in milkweed,
magnolia, peonies, and
larkspur.
In
anatomy, a
follicle can mean a small cavity or sac. Examples include
hair follicles and ovarian follicles.