Which among the following statements are true for unisexual flowers?

(i) They possess both stamen and pistil


(ii) They possess either stamen or pistil


(iii) They exhibit cross pollination


(iv) Unisexual flowers possessing only stamens cannot produce fruits

Stamen is the male reproductive organ and pistil is the female reproductive organ of a flower. Unisexual flowers are those flowers which possess either male or female reproductive organs. Since unisexual flowers do not have both type of reproductive organs, they cannot self-reproduce and hence show cross pollination. Fruit is a result of reproduction. Unisexual flowers with only stamen cannot reproduce and hence cannot produce fruits.


NOTE: Pollination is the process of transfer of pollens from one flower to another. Pollens are the male gametes. Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollens from one flower of a plant to another flower of a different plant. Self-pollination is the transfer of pollens from one flower of a plant to another flower of the same plant.

7