serotinous

adjective

se·​rot·​i·​nous sə-ˈrä-tə-nəs 

sə-ˈrät-nəs;

ˌser-ə-ˈtī-nəs

: remaining closed on the tree with seed dissemination delayed or occurring gradually

serotinous cones

serotiny

sə-ˈrät-nē 

-ˈrä-tə-

noun

Examples of serotinous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The book pairs those affirmations with personal essays about her childhood, her miscarriages, her kids, and observations about nature, including the way serotinous pinecones only release their seeds in fire. —Sophy Chaffee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin serotinus coming late, from sero late — more at soiree

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above