The principal advantage of cleistogamy is that it requires fewer plant resources to produce seeds than does chasmogamy, because development of petals, nectar and large amounts of pollen is not required. This efficiency makes cleistogamy particularly useful for seed production on unfavorable sites or adverse conditions.

What is cleistogamy in plant?

Cleistogamy means the formation of flowers that do not open (CL), and thus production of seeds is a result of autogamy. In contrast, flowers that open are called chasmogamous flowers (CH), and they have various types of breeding systems, depending on the taxon.

Why are cleistogamous flowers self-pollinated?

Cleistogamy is the type of self-pollination that occurs in such closed flowers. As these flowers do not open at all, there is no space for cross-pollination. ... The anthers dehiscence inside the closed flowers and the pollen grains from the dehisced anthers fall under the stigma of the same flower.