# Monoecious

> Having both male and female flowers on the same individual plant; in cannabis, a trait deliberately bred into some hemp cultivars, not the natural norm.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoecious.html
- Also written: monoecy, monoecism, monoecious hemp, co-sexual
- Glossary category: Plant biology · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

A monoecious plant carries separate male and [female flowers](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/pistillate-flower.md) on the same individual. Maize is the textbook example. In cannabis, monoecy is a trait selected deliberately in some [industrial hemp](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hemp.md) cultivars for uniform seed and fibre crops; those plants are genetically female (XX) with stable expression of [male flowers](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/staminate-flower.md) (Faux et al. 2014).

## In practice

For drug-type growers, monoecious is mainly a word to read precisely:
- A **monoecious hemp cultivar** is a bred, [stable line](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ibl.md), managed for grain or fibre.
- A **drug-type plant** that suddenly shows male flowers on a female is [intersex](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hermaphrodite.md) (hermaphrodite), not "naturally monoecious".

Monoecious hemp pollen can seed nearby drug-type crops, just like a male. Outdoor growers near hemp fields should know that.

## Don't confuse with

- **Dioecious**: separate male and female plants, the natural state of cannabis.
- **Hermaphrodite**: in grower usage an intersex female, an unwanted abnormality.
- **Perfect flower**: a single flower with both [stamens](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/anther.md) and [pistil](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/pistil.md), rare in cannabis.

## Myth check

House position: monoecious hemp was bred on purpose and is not the norm for cannabis. Its existence does not make [herm-prone](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/herm-prone.md) drug lines acceptable. Those reflect poor breeding. See [the sex guide](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/basics/sex-male-female-hermaphrodite.md).

## Related terms

[Dioecious](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/dioecious.md), [Hermaphrodite](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hermaphrodite.md), [Staminate flower](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/staminate-flower.md)

## Read more

- [Male, female and hermaphrodite cannabis: how sex works](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/basics/sex-male-female-hermaphrodite.md)

## Sources

1. Faux AM, Berhin A, Dauguet N, Bertin P. 2014. Sex chromosomes and quantitative sex expression in monoecious hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Euphytica 196(2):183-197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-013-1023-y
2. Small E. 2015. Evolution and classification of Cannabis sativa (marijuana, hemp) in relation to human utilization. The Botanical Review 81:189-294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-015-9157-3