monoeci

Monoeci refers to a biological condition found in certain plant species where male and female reproductive organs are located on the same individual plant, but in separate flowers. This is in contrast to dioecious plants, which have separate male and female individuals. In monoecious plants, a single plant will produce both staminate (male) flowers and pistillate (female) flowers.

The presence of both sexes on the same plant can facilitate self-pollination, where pollen from a male flower fertilizes a female flower on the same plant. However, many monoecious plants also have mechanisms to promote cross-pollination, such as differences in the timing of pollen release and stigma receptivity (dichogamy) or physical separation of the male and female flowers on the plant. This genetic diversity through cross-pollination can be advantageous for the species.

Examples of monoecious plants include corn (Zea mays), where the tassel produces pollen and the ears develop kernels from silks, and squash (Cucurbita pepo), which has distinct male and female blossoms. The term monoecious originates from Greek words meaning "one house," aptly describing the situation where both sexes reside within a single organism. This reproductive strategy is common in the plant kingdom and plays a significant role in the life cycles and evolutionary success of many species.