title: Ecology of plant dioecy in the intermountain region of Western North America and California.
abstract: Data from 44 plant communities of the arid zone of western North America and from the entire California flora suggest that the dioecious habit (separate sexed individuals) is best developed among wind pollinated woody plants. A rationale is presented for the ways in which wind pollination and large plant size have favored the development of the dioecious habit. Based upon the patterns examined, it is concluded that inbreeding depression alone is insufficient to account for the evolution of the dioecious habit in many temperate species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Wayne State University, 48202, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carl Freeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Range Science, Brigham Young University, 84602, Provo, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.affiliation: Native Plants Inc., P.O. Box 15526, 84115, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kent Ostler