Pseudovivipary

Pseudovivipary is a form of asexual plant reproduction in which plantlets or vegetative propagules develop in place of seeds within the inflorescence or fruit. When mature, these propagules detach and establish as independent individuals without the involvement of fertilization.

In pseudovivipary, floral tissues or parts of the inflorescence differentiate into vegetative propagules such as plantlets, bulbils, or stolon-like structures. These propagules can disperse and root, effectively bypassing seed formation. The process is distinct from true vivipary, where seeds germinate while still attached to or within the parent plant, and from sexual seed production that involves fertilization.

The phenomenon has been reported in several plant groups, most notably among monocots including some grasses and related taxa, as well as certain geophytes. It is more likely to occur in environments where rapid colonization or persistence is advantageous, such as habitats with short growing seasons, frequent disturbance, or stress conditions that favor vegetative propagation over seed set.

Ecologically, pseudovivipary can enhance local population growth and spread under challenging conditions, but it often produces genetically identical offspring, reducing genetic diversity. In some species, the propagules arise in association with apomictic or autonomous development, linking pseudovivipary to broader strategies of clonal reproduction. Further study clarifies its prevalence, triggers, and evolutionary significance across plant lineages.