protogyny

views updated Jun 08 2018

protogyny
1. The condition in which the female reproductive organs (carpels) of a flower mature before the male ones (stamens), thereby ensuring that self-fertilization does not occur. Examples of protogynous flowers are plantain and figwort. Compare protandry; homogamy. See also dichogamy.

2. The condition in hermaphrodite or colonial invertebrates in which the female gonads or individuals are sexually mature before the male ones. Compare protandry.

protogyny

views updated May 21 2018

protogyny (adj. protogynous)
1. Condition in which the females develop eggs before males produce sperm, or females arrive at breeding grounds before males. Compare PROTANDRY.

2. In sequential hermaphrodites, the occurrence of the female form in younger, smaller individuals and the male form in larger, dominant individuals. Individuals that never become dominant do not become male.

protogyny

views updated May 17 2018

protogyny(adj.protogynous) A condition in which the female parts develop first (e.g. the females develop eggs before males produce sperm, or females arrive at breeding grounds before males). Compare protandry.

protogyny

views updated May 14 2018

protogyny (adj. protogynous) A condition in which the female parts develop first. Compare PROTANDRY.