Question Detail

Monoecious plants have both male and female flowers on the same individual plant. While cross-pollination can still occur, self-pollination is also possible. Dioecious plants (separate male and female plants) necessitate cross-pollination. Polygyny (presence of both hermaphrodite and female flowers) and protandry (male organs mature before female organs) are mechanisms that promote cross-pollination by preventing or reducing self-pollination. Therefore, monoecious plants are the exception to conditions that exclusively support cross-pollination.