A loment (or lomentum) is a type of dehiscent[1] legume fruit that breaks apart at constrictions occurring between segments, so that each segment contains only one seed.[2] It is a type of schizocarp.[1]

Loments of Hedysarum hedysaroides

Tick trefoil (Desmodium) and sweet vetch (Hedysarum) are two genera that exhibit this fruit type, which is found particularly in the tribe Hedysareae of the family Fabaceae.

References

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  1. ^ a b Bell, A.D. (1997). Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press.
  2. ^ Beentje, H. (2010). The Kew Plant Glossary: an Illustrated Dictionary of Plant Terms. illustrated by Williamson, J. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Kew Publishing.