protandry

Protandry is a form of hermaphroditism where male organs mature before female organs within the same individual. This temporal separation of male and female function inhibits self-fertilization. This phenomenon is observed in various plants, such as mints and legumes, and also in many invertebrate animals.1

Hermaphroditism, the condition of having both male and female reproductive organs, is common in some animal groups, including earthworms, snails, and certain fish species. While hermaphrodites possess both ovaries and testes, cross-fertilization is typically favored over self-fertilization. In some species, like certain shrimps and oysters, individuals can even change sex during their lifetime.23