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Old 26-04-2003, 01:29 PM
MMMavocado
 
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Default plant reproduction

I had assumed you ;-) would refer to the avocado, of which some plants are
female in the morning and male in the afternoon, while others are just the
reverse, with both groups needing to be present for fruit to set?
PvR BRBR

Yes, avocados are synchronously dichogamous (great dinner-party term to throw
around!), but they don't really fit into this discussion, since the flowers are
anatomically perfect. They simply mature their sexual whorls at different
times. Always female first, then male. Type "A" trees open female in the
morning, then close around noon, wait until the following day, and open after
noon functionally male. Type "B" trees open the first day in the afternoon, as
females, close for the night, and open the following morning functionally male,
then close by noon.

They do make mistakes, though. Some varieties can self-pollinate by not having
the stigma/style undergo senescence until well into the male stage. Others can
self-pollinate if the night-time temperature goes low enough to stop the female
flowers from closing.