A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Cypsela (Eng.noun): a dry, single-seeded, indehiscent fruit with an adnate calyx, as in some achenes in the Compositae (Asteraceae), e.g. Calendula, Senecio; “the dry one-celled one-seeded inferior fruit of Composites” (Lindley); “an achene invested by an adnate calyx, as the fruit of Compositae” (Jackson); “an achene invested by an adnate calyx as in the fruit of most Compositae” (Fernald 1950): cypsela,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. cypsela, nom. pl. cypselae, acc. pl. cypselas, dat. & abl.pl. cypselis [> Gk. cypselE (s.f.I), “any hollow vessel; chest, box; hollow of the ear (hence ‘ear-wax’ (from Liddell & Scott); see achene;

NOTE: Achene, "Introduced in 1790 by Necker as achena (s.f.I) and used by him for indehiscent one-seeded coriaceous fruits in Ranunculaceae, Cyperaceae, etc. but not for the cypselae (formed from inferior ovary) of Compositae. Also spelled achaenium (s.n.II) and achaena (s.f.I)" (Stearn 1984).

“...some authors prefer the specialized term ‘cypsela’ for the peculiar fruit of the COmpositae, derived from a 2-carpellate, inferior ovary, reserving ‘achene’ for a fruit of similar texture but derived from a single superior carpel (as in many Ranunculaceae and Rosaceae, for example” (Voss, 1996, Vol. 3 Michigan Flora).

- cypselis maturis drupaceis, with the mature cypselae like a drupe.

- Grindeliae coronensi cypselis complanatis affinis, related to Grindelia coronensis by the complanate cypselae.

Coccocypselum, Swartz. From kokkos, fruit, and kypsele, a vase; alluding to the shape of the berries. (Paxton).