In botany a capsule is a type of simple, dry fruit formed by many species of flowering plants. A capsule is a dehiscent structure collected of two or more carpels that, at maturity, split apart (dehisce) to free the seeds within. In some capsules, the split occurs between carpels, and in others every carpel splits open. In yet others, seeds are out through openings or pores that form in the capsule. In the Brazil nut, a lid on the capsule opens however is too small to release the dozen or so seeds (the actual "Brazil nut" of commerce) within. These take root inside the capsule after it falls to the ground.
Capsules are at times mislabeled as nuts, as in the example of the Brazil nut or the Horse-chestnut. A capsule is not a nut as it releases its seeds and it splits apart. Nuts on the other hand do not let loose the seeds as they are a compound ovary containing both a single seed and the fruit. Nuts as well do not split.
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