The term is commonly used to refer
the reproductive behaviour of plants. Around 90% of the plant species are
bisexual or called as `perfect' flowers; these hermaphrodites are both
staminate (with stamens or male parts) and pistillate (with one or more
carpels; female parts) on the same flower.
Rest 10% of plants have evolved
unisexuality as spatial separation of flowers. They can be Monoecious and
Dioecious. Monoecious ("Mono"
=one - and the term "monoecious" is literally "one
house"),
plants have male flowers and female flowers in separate structures on the same
plant. In dioecious plants (“two house”), male and female flowers are present
on separate plant.
Example of Monoecious Plant
- Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
- Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
- Fig (Ficus carica)
- Hazelnut (Corylus spp)
- Maize (Zea mays)
- Melon (Cucumis melo)
- Oilpalm (Elaeis guinensis)
- Walnut (Juglans regia)