[klahy-stog-uh-muh
s] 
| pertaining to or having pollination occurring in unopened flowers. |
[klahy-stuh-gam-ik] . | cleis·tog·a·mous (klī-stŏg'ə-məs) adj. Botany Of or relating to a flower that does not open and is self-pollinated in the bud. [Greek kleistos, closed (from kleiein, to close) + -gamous.] cleis·tog'a·mous·ly adv., cleis·tog'a·my (-mē) n. |
| cleistogamous (klī-stŏg'ə-məs) Pronunciation Key
Of or relating to a flower that does not open and is self-pollinated in the bud. The fertile flowers of the violet are inconspicuous and cleistogamous, while the plant's more familiar showy flowers are usually infertile. |