Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
dioecious
adjective
/daɪˈiːʃəs/
Definition
Referring to a species in which individual organisms are either male or female, leading to the necessity of both sexes for reproduction.
Examples
- Most holly species are dioecious, meaning you’ll need both male and female plants to produce berries.
- The kiwi plant is dioecious; you need one of each sex to ensure fruit production.
- In a dioecious population, individual plants can only produce one type of gamete, either sperm or eggs.
Meaning
In dioecious species, plants or organisms bear only one type of reproductive organ. This means that a plant or organism cannot self-fertilize and instead requires a partner of the opposite sex to reproduce.
Synonyms
- Sexually differentiated
- Dichogamous
- Unisexual
