Subtopic 1: Schizocarp Characteristics
– Schizocarp is a dry fruit that splits into mericarps when mature.
– It can be indehiscent (remaining closed) like in carrots and musk mallow.
– Alternatively, it can be dehiscent (splitting open) like in geraniums.
– Mericarps can contain one or more seeds.
– Some fruits separate into one-seeded segments like loments.
Subtopic 2: Definitions of Schizocarp
– Schizocarp can be any dry fruit composed of multiple carpels that separate.
– Mericarps can contain one or more seeds.
– Each mericarp can be indehiscent or dehiscent.
– Schizocarp can split into indehiscent segments.
– Examples include Abutilon, Malva, Malvastrum, and Sida.
Subtopic 3: Examples of Schizocarp Plants
– Musk mallow (Malva moschata) has an indehiscent schizocarp.
– Carrots have a schizocarp that splits into two parts.
– Members of the genus Geranium have dehiscent schizocarps.
– Abutilon’s mericarps can be partially dehiscent.
– Umbelliferae plants exhibit indehiscent schizocarps.
Subtopic 4: References on Schizocarp
– Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides information on schizocarps.
– Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences offers insights.
– Bell, A.D.’s book “Plant form” discusses flowering plant morphology.
– Wiktionary contains definitions for schizocarp and mericarp.
– Wikipedia has articles on fruit morphology and plant stubs.
Subtopic 5: Additional Information
– Schizocarp splitting into mericarps is a unique fruit characteristic.
– The process of dehiscence in schizocarps is similar to capsules.
– Schizocarps play a role in seed dispersal for various plant species.
– Loments are examples of fruits that separate into one-seeded segments.
– Understanding schizocarps is essential in botanical studies.
A schizocarp /ˈskɪzəkɑːrp/ is a dry fruit that, when mature, splits up into mericarps.

There are different definitions:
- Any dry fruit composed of multiple carpels that separate.
- Under this definition the mericarps can contain one or more seeds (the mericarps of Abutilon have two or more seeds) and each mericarp can be either:
- Indehiscent (remaining closed), such as in the carrot and other Umbelliferae or in members of the genus Malva, or
- Dehiscent (splitting open to release the seed), for example members of the genus Geranium. This is similar to what happens with a capsule, but with an extra stage. (In Abutilon, the mericarp is sometimes only partially dehiscent and does not release the seed.)
- Any fruit that separates into indehiscent one-seeded segments, such as a loment, Malva, Malvastrum, and Sida.