Andromonoecy is a breeding system of plant species in which male and hermaphrodite flowers are on the same plant. [1] It is a monomorphic sexual system comparable with monoecy, gynomonoecy and trimonoecy. [2] Andromonoecy is frequent among genera with zygomorphic flowers, [3] however it is overall rare and occurs in less than 2% of plant species. Nonetheless the breeding system has gained interest among biologists in the study of sex expression. [4]
The word andromonoecious is a combination of andr- (meaning male) and monoecious and was first used in 1877. [5]
Andromonoecy is uncommon and has been estimated to occur in less than 2% of plant species. [4] In angiosperms, it occurs in 1.7% of angiosperms making up around 4000 species in 33 families. [6] [7] It is common in the grass subfamily Panicoideae. [8]
Some authors view andromonoecy as a transitional state from hermaphroditism to monoecy. [11] It has been suggested that andromonoecy evolved from hermaphroditism due to the loss of female structures. [9]
Andromonoecy is also considered an evolutionary step towards dioecy. [15] If female flowers are better at producing seeds than hermaphroditic ones, andromonoecy could evolve towards monoecy. [16]
Andromonoecy is a breeding system of plant species in which male and hermaphrodite flowers are on the same plant. [1] It is a monomorphic sexual system comparable with monoecy, gynomonoecy and trimonoecy. [2] Andromonoecy is frequent among genera with zygomorphic flowers, [3] however it is overall rare and occurs in less than 2% of plant species. Nonetheless the breeding system has gained interest among biologists in the study of sex expression. [4]
The word andromonoecious is a combination of andr- (meaning male) and monoecious and was first used in 1877. [5]
Andromonoecy is uncommon and has been estimated to occur in less than 2% of plant species. [4] In angiosperms, it occurs in 1.7% of angiosperms making up around 4000 species in 33 families. [6] [7] It is common in the grass subfamily Panicoideae. [8]
Some authors view andromonoecy as a transitional state from hermaphroditism to monoecy. [11] It has been suggested that andromonoecy evolved from hermaphroditism due to the loss of female structures. [9]
Andromonoecy is also considered an evolutionary step towards dioecy. [15] If female flowers are better at producing seeds than hermaphroditic ones, andromonoecy could evolve towards monoecy. [16]