Follicle

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Closeup of cone of Banksia serrata, with follicles having opened to release seed

A follicle (from the Latin folliculus) is a term to describe a small spherical group of cells containing a cavity, and is often used as a descriptive term in biology, particularly in anatomy. Examples include hair follicles and ovarian follicles.

In botany, the term is used to describe a dry fruit which dehisces along one rupture site in order to release seeds, such as in larkspur, magnolia, banksia ,peony and milkweed.