Pronunciation: kl ī - ' stä-g ə -m ə s
Variant: also cleis · to · gam · ic \ ˌ kl ī -st ə - ' ga-mik \
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek kleistos closed (fr. kleiein to close) + International Scientific Vocabulary -gamous ― more at CLAVICLE
Date: 1874
: characterized by or being small inconspicuous closed self-pollinating flowers additional to and often more fruitful than showier ones on the same plant <violets are cleistogamous >
– cleis · tog · a · mous · ly \ kl ī - ' stä-g ə -m ə s-l ē \ adverb
– cleis · tog · a · my \ - ' stä-g ə -m ē \ noun