Definition
dioecism
noun
- the condition or state of being dioecious; the occurrence of male and female reproductive organs in separate individual organisms of the same species.
Usage: biology; botany
Examples
- Dioecism is common in many plant species, where some individuals produce only flowers with stamens and others produce only flowers with pistils.
- The dioecism of ginkgo trees means that only male trees are typically planted in urban areas to avoid the foul-smelling fruit.
- In animals, dioecism ensures genetic diversity through the separation of male and female functions.
- Many conifers exhibit dioecism, with distinct male and female trees.
- The study of dioecism helps botanists understand reproductive strategies in flowering plants.