Although perhaps the name does not sound much to the least experts in botany, monoic plants are very common throughout the planet, as they are one of the most numerous groups in the plant world. This term, along with other similar ones such as monoclins, diclinas or dioica, is used when we talk about plants reproduction.
Do you want to learn more about what a monoic plant is? If so, accompany us in this ecology article in which we explain What are monoic plants, their characteristics and examples of some representative species of this large group.
What are monoic plants
We will start by explaining What is a monoic plant. When In a single plant the sexual organs of both sexes coexistit is said that the plant is monoic. This word comes from the Greek and is composed of monkey, which means one, and Oikos, which means house. Its meaning, thus, is quite intuitive: when both sexes live in a single individual.
The plants, unlike most animals, tend to present both sexes in the same individual, either with perfect flowers, which contain the sexual organs of the two sexes, or producing flowers of each of the sexes separately in the same plant.
Approximately 75% of the world’s plants are Monoic plantsin some of its different varieties.
Characteristics of monoic plants
These are the main characteristics of monoic plants:
- As we have just seen, the essential characteristic of a monoic plant is that in a single specimen we can find both sexual organs. When we talk about the classification of plants according to their reproduction and presence of sexual organs, several terms can be differentiated. On the one hand, there are the monoices, which we have just defined, and, on the other hand, there are the dioic plants, which are those plants that only have organs of a single sex in each individual.
- If we stick to the flowers of monoic plants, they are divided into monoclins and diclinas. The first are those bisexual flowers that present the organs of both sexes in the same flower, while the diclinas are flowers of a single sex. Both terms can be combined. Thus, when we talk about a monoic diclino plant, it is the one whose flowers present the organs of a single sex, but that produces both female and masculine flowers in the same individual. This particular condition is very common, since it allows the plant to reproduce both biparental, pollinating other plants, and pollinate itself. It is thus a way to ensure the survival of the species without giving up the possibilities of genetic variety.
- These types of plants tend to show their male flowers at the highest end of them to facilitate the propagation of pollen through the elements, while their female flowers They usually be below.
- Some monoic plants have developed strategies or methods to avoid self -feeding and thus favor their genetic diversity.
Learn more about the reproduction of plants with this other ecology article.
Hermaphrodite plants
Hermaphrodite plants are nothing other than Monoocline flower plantsthat is, those that present flowers with the organs of both sexes in them. Monoclin flowers are also usually called Perfect flowers And they are very popular in areas such as agriculture, due to the facilities they suppose when reproducing them, not depending on pollinating insects.
Discover more about hermaphrodite plants: what are, characteristics and examples with this other post of ecology.
Examples of monoic plants
¿What are monoic plants best known? With these examples of monoic plants, you will immediately see that many of them are more common than one might think.
Corn
Scientific name Zea maysthis Poaceae family cereal has been domesticated by the human being for about 10,000 years. Corn is the most produced cereal worldwide, ahead of other basic foods such as wheat and rice.
The well -known cobs are nothing other than female inflorescences, which are located on the sides of the plant. The male inflorescences, on the other hand, called spikes or panojas, are located at the highest ends of the plant.
Coconuto
Your scientific name is Nucifera coconutsand with him we refer to a palm tree from the Arecaceae family, specifically to which it produces the known and appreciated fruits in many countries of the world: coconuts.
It is a plant of the beaches of tropical climates, originating in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian and the Caribbean Sea, although it is currently grown in more places. Its inflorescences group both masculine and female flowers.
Cocoteros seeds are exceptionally resistant, and sometimes they can reach very distant coasts dragged by the tide and end germinating.
Almond
Of scientific denomination Prunus Dulcisthis small tree, because it rarely exceeds five meters high, is another monoic plant. The almond tree has its origin in Asia, and in addition to its fruit, the almond, it is very popular for its beautiful five -petal flowers, of beautiful white or pink.
It is a warm climate tree that can resist occasional drought periods and its fruit, almond, is especially rich in vitamin E and a large antioxidant.
Other examples of monoic plants
- Orón or roast (Acer Opalus).
- Chaparra, chaparro or oak (Quercus ilex).
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus).
If you want to read more articles similar to Monoic plants: what are, characteristics and exampleswe recommend that you enter our biology category.
