Which plant is cited as an example of a monoecious plant?

Which plant is cited as an example of a monoecious plant?

• A. Squash
• B. Ginkgo tree
• C. Lily of the Valley
• D. Gladiolas

Answer: (A)

Monoecious plants have both male and female flowers on the same plant, with the flowers being separate in form. Squash shows this clearly: a single plant bears male blossoms that release pollen and female blossoms that develop into fruit, all on the same plant. The ginkgo tree, by contrast, has male and female flowers on separate plants. Lily of the valley and gladiolas typically have flowers that contain both male and female organs in the same flower (bisexual or hermaphroditic flowers), which isn’t the same as having distinct male and female flowers on one plant. So squash best demonstrates monoecy.

Monoecious plants have both male and female flowers on the same plant, with the flowers being separate in form. Squash shows this clearly: a single plant bears male blossoms that release pollen and female blossoms that develop into fruit, all on the same plant. The ginkgo tree, by contrast, has male and female flowers on separate plants. Lily of the valley and gladiolas typically have flowers that contain both male and female organs in the same flower (bisexual or hermaphroditic flowers), which isn’t the same as having distinct male and female flowers on one plant. So squash best demonstrates monoecy.