Bot.; also achæne. [ad. mod.L. achænium, an anomalous formation on Gr. ἀ priv. + χαίν-ειν to gape (whence the true adj. form ἀχᾰν-ής not gaping); sometimes spelt achenium, and erroneously explained as f. Gr. ἀχήν poor, wanting, ἀχηνία want.] ‘A monospermal seed-vessel which does not open, but the pericarp of which is separable.’ Balfour. ‘Any small brittle seed-like fruit, such as Linnæus called a naked seed.’ Lindley.
1845. Lindley, Sch. Bot., i. 18 (1858). The achænium … is small, seedlike, dry.
1855. Henfrey, Sketch of Plants, 15. Ranunculaccæ, the carpels … ripening into a hard seedlike indehiscent body (achene).
1876. Oliver, Elem. Bot., 98. They [the carpels or seeds scattered over the surface of a strawberry] are indehiscent, and therefore wholly agree with the achenes of buttercups.
