Pertaining to fruit or cones that remain on a tree without opening for one or more years – note in some species cones open and seeds are shed when heat is provided by fires or hot and dry conditions.
(a) Applied to flowering or fruiting relatively late in the season. (b) of cones; remainig on the tree unopened for one or more years. ( BCFT modif).
Late in bearing or opening.
Resin bearing. A classic North Country example is the serotinous cones of the Jack Pine ( Pinus banksiana) which are sealed tightly closed by the resin until softened by fire, at which point the cones open and the seeds are released.