Dichogamy

Dichogamy in flowering plants

In the context of the sexuality of flowering plants (angiosperms), there are two forms of dichogamy: protogyny—female function precedes male function—and protandry—male function precedes female function. Examples include in Asteraceae, bisexual tubular (disks) florets are usually protandrous. Whereas in Acacia and Banksia flowers are protogynous, with the style of the female flower elongating, then later in the male phase the anthers shedding pollen. Asimina triloba exhibits synchronized protogyny across all individuals in a clonal stand. In cultivation, growers often plant different cultivars together to stagger flower transition times to increase fertilization rates for greater fruit yields.