a. [ad. mod.L. unisexual-is (F. unisexuel (1812), Pg. unisexual): see UNI- and SEXUAL a.]
1. Of one sex; having the essential generative or reproductive organs of one or other sex developed or present in individuals: a. Bot. Of flowers: In which either the stamens or pistils are absent or suppressed. Also, of plants: Characterized by flowers of this kind; = DICLINOUS a.
1802. R. Hall, Elem. Bot., 193. Unisexual,… having one sex.
1828. Stark, Elem. Nat. Hist., II. 461. The last three classes [of plants] … have the flowers thus disposed, and are hence named unisexual.
1839. Lindley, Sch. Bot., 16. In particular species the stamens are found in one flower, and the pistil in another…; such plants are called unisexual.
1854. S. Thomson, Wild Fl., 62. These unisexual blossoms being either the production of the same individual plant, or of separate individuals of the same species.
1872. Oliver, Elem. Bot., II. 169. Burnet Sanguisorb,… with … unisexual flowers.
Comb. 1877. Nature, 26 April, 543/1. A unisexual-flowering plant.
b. Zool. Of animals or their organs.
In Ent. of certain agamic broods of Aphides: consisting of the female sex only (Cent. Dict., 1891).
1830. R. Knox, Béclard’s Anat., 29. The organs of generation present all the varieties, unisexual, without copulation, hermaphrodite [etc.].
1861. Hulme, trans. Moquin-Tandon, II. I. 47. In a great number of animals the sexes are separated and placed on distinct individuals: these are said to be unisexual.
1877. Darwin, Forms of Fl., Introd. 2. The males and females of ordinary unisexual animals.
2. Pertaining or restricted to one sex; U.S. esp. of colleges or schools.
1885. L. Oliphant, Sympneumata, 182. The relationship of person which would maintain in a painful activity the currents of the decaying unisexual layers of either frame.
1886. Century Mag., June, 326/1. One final provincialism of the mind there is, which a unisexual college certainly never would have any power to eradicate.
1904. Daily Chron., 14 Oct., 6. The present unjust system of unisexual punishments.
Hence Unisexually adv.
1891. Cent. Dict., s.v., Animals unisexually developed.
1901. Nature, 10 Jan., 252/1. Not that spontaneous variations are always inherited unisexually.
