Which plant is cited as an example of a dioecious species?

Which plant is cited as an example of a dioecious species?

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

Answer: (B)

Dioecious plants have male and female reproductive organs on separate individual plants. The ginkgo tree is dioecious, with some trees producing only pollen cones (males) and others producing seed-bearing cones (females). This is why it’s cited as an example. The other options don’t fit because squash bears male and female flowers on the same plant (monoecious), lily of the valley has flowers with both male and female parts in each bloom (hermaphroditic), and gladiolas typically have flowers that contain both male and female structures within each bloom.

Dioecious plants have male and female reproductive organs on separate individual plants. The ginkgo tree is dioecious, with some trees producing only pollen cones (males) and others producing seed-bearing cones (females). This is why it’s cited as an example. The other options don’t fit because squash bears male and female flowers on the same plant (monoecious), lily of the valley has flowers with both male and female parts in each bloom (hermaphroditic), and gladiolas typically have flowers that contain both male and female structures within each bloom.