A dry, many-seeded fruit derived from more than one carpel. When ripe it opens by means of valves, pores, or a lid, or by irregular fracturing.
A capsule is a dehiscent structure composed of two or more carpels, that, at maturity, split apart (dehisce) to release the seeds within. In yet others, seeds are released through openings or pores that form in the capsule. In the Brazil nut, a lid on the capsule opens, but is too small to release the dozen or so seeds (the actual "Brazil nut" of commerce) within.Capsules are sometimes mislabeled as nuts, as in the example of the Brazil nut or the Horse-chestnut. A capsule is not a nut because it releases its seeds and it splits apart. Nuts on the other hand do not release seeds as they are a compound ovary containing both a single seed and the fruit.
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