1. A condition in which an organism produces two or more distinct forms or types of individuals, especially in reproduction or life cycles.
Usage: biology; technical
2. In botany, the condition in which flowers of the same species have stamens and pistils of different lengths, promoting cross-pollination.
Usage: botany; technical

Examples

• The heterogony of certain insects allows them to produce both winged and wingless forms depending on environmental conditions.
• Heterogony in flowering plants ensures that pollen from one flower type can effectively fertilize flowers of a different type.
• Scientists study heterogony to understand how organisms adapt their reproductive strategies to different environments.
• The heterogony observed in some crustaceans results in distinct morphological differences between generations.
• Heterogony is an important mechanism for maintaining genetic diversity in plant populations.