monoecious

Monoecious describes organisms that possess both male and female reproductive organs within a single individual. The term comes from Greek roots meaning "one house," reflecting the idea of a single organism capable of producing both kinds of gametes. It is used in both botany and zoology, with slightly different emphases in each field.

In plants, monoecy means that a single plant bears both male and female flowers, which are typically separate flowers rather than a single bisex organ. Examples include maize (corn), cucumber and other cucurbits, and many trees and shrubs such as oak and grape. Monoecious plants can enhance reproductive assurance when mates are scarce and may rely on wind or animal pollinators to transfer pollen between flowers. Some species also produce flowers that contain both male and female organs on the same flower, a form of hermaphroditism, but the term monoecious usually refers to separate male and female flowers on the same plant.

In animals, monoecy refers to individuals that have both male and female reproductive systems, often described as simultaneous or true hermaphrodites. This condition occurs in many invertebrates, such as earthworms, many mollusks, and some flatworms, and also appears in certain fishes and crustaceans. Reproduction is frequently accomplished through cross-fertilization with another individual, though some species can self-fertilize under certain circumstances.

Monoecy is contrasted with dioecy, where individuals are exclusively male or female. In plants, monoecy and dioecy describe patterns of sexual expression, while hermaphroditism is a broader term that can apply to situations in which individuals possess both sex functions in a single flower or organism.