Dioecious flowering plants are

Dioecious flowering plants are

• A. Have both male and female flowers on the same plant
• B. Have only male flowers on all plants
• C. Have both male and female flowers on different individual plants
• D. Have only female flowers on all plants

Answer: (D)

Dioecious flowering plants have separate sexes on different individuals. Each plant produces only one type of flower—either male or female. Because of this, some plants bear only male flowers and others bear only female flowers, and fertilization happens between plants. Describing dioecious species as having both male and female flowers on different individual plants captures this arrangement. If a plant had both types of flowers on the same individual, that would be a different pattern (monoecious or perfect flowers). Likewise, having only male flowers on all plants or only female flowers on all plants would leave no partner of the opposite sex to produce seeds.

Dioecious flowering plants have separate sexes on different individuals. Each plant produces only one type of flower—either male or female. Because of this, some plants bear only male flowers and others bear only female flowers, and fertilization happens between plants. Describing dioecious species as having both male and female flowers on different individual plants captures this arrangement. If a plant had both types of flowers on the same individual, that would be a different pattern (monoecious or perfect flowers). Likewise, having only male flowers on all plants or only female flowers on all plants would leave no partner of the opposite sex to produce seeds.