Gynodioecy is a dimorphic breeding system in which male sterile individuals (i.e. females) coexist with hermaphroditic individuals in populations. (J.S. Miller, J.L. Stanton Geddes, 2007) Although there is a claim that gynodioecy exists among the animal population, most recorded works done on this subject has been done using plant species. For example: lobelia syphilitica and lobelia spicata. In the research carried out by J. S. Miller and J. L. Stanton Geddes on these two Lobelia species, it was confirmed that both species from Massachusetts are gynodioecious; that the hermaphrodites within both populations were found to be self-compatible; and that mixed mating occurred. Consequently, we can say that in gynodioecious species, reproduction might occur within the hermaphrodite (i.e. for self compatible hermaphrodites) or involve a hermaphrodite and a female. It was also noted in their work that, the genetic basis of gynodioecy involves both cytoplasmic and nuclear control (Delph et al. 2007), with ecological and genetic factors suggested to be important in regulating the frequency of females in populations.

See also

• Androdioecy
  Androdioecy
  Androdioecy is a reproductive system found in species composed of a male population and a distinct hermaphrodite population. Such species are rare....
  
  
• The ecology of sex expression in a gynodioecious Isreali desert shrub Ochradenus baccatus: Ecology, Jan, 1997 by Lorne M. Wolfe, Hvi Shmida
• Pollination biology and flower visitors of the gynodioecious species, Lobelia spicata Lam. (Campanulaceae): Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, July-Sep 2002 by Molano-Flores, Brenda