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

/ dī-ē′shəs /

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

Derived Forms

• diˈoeciously, adverb
• diˈoeciousness, noun

Other Words From

• di·oecious·ly adverb
• di·oecious·ness noun
• di·oe·cism [dahy-, ee, -siz-, uh, m], 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.

From Seattle Times

Nepenthes is part of the just 6% of flowering plant species that are dioecious, meaning each individual plant produces either male or female flowers.

From Science Daily

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

From Seattle Times

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

From New York Times

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

From Literature