dioecious

Or di·e·cious

[dahy-ee-shuhs]

adjective

Biology.

1. (especially of plants) having the male and female organs in separate and distinct individuals; having separate sexes.

dioecious

/ daɪˈɔɪkəs, daɪˈiːʃəs /

adjective

1. (of some plants) having the male and female reproductive organs in separate flowers on separate plants Compare monoecious

dioecious

1. Having male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another plant of the same species. The holly and asparagus plants are dioecious.

2. Compare monoecious

Other Word Forms

• dioeciously adverb
• dioeciousness noun
• dioecism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dioecious¹

1740–50; < New Latin Dioeci ( a ) a class name ( di- di- ¹ + Greek oikía a house, dwelling, spelling variant of oîkos ) + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of dioecious¹

C18: from New Latin Dioecia name of class, from _di ¹ + Greek oikia house, dwelling

Example Sentences

Salix are generally dioecious — their male and female reproductive parts are on different plants.

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In fact, Nepenthes is the only dioecious carnivorous plant.

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If you want berries, remember that hollies are dioecious, meaning they come in male and female, and only the female bears fruit.

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Willows are dioecious; that is, male trees produce only male flowers, and female trees produce only female flowers.

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The former plants are termed self-incompatible hermaphrodites; the latter, dioecious species.

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