Planta Med 2013; 79(08): 613-615
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328429
Perspectives
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Dioecy in Plants – Is It an Important Factor for Phytochemists to Consider?

Authors

  • Bradley S. Simpson

    1   Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, School of Medicine, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
    2   School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

received 15 January 2013
revised 25 February 2013

accepted 11 March 2013

Publication Date:
10 April 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Plants with separate male and female flowers are termed dioecious. Dioecy is not rare, yet is a characteristic that could potentially impact the phytochemical and subsequent pharmacological properties of a species. This is a brief insight which highlights why the sex of the plant might be an important factor to consider for researchers within phytochemistry related fields.