HERMAPHRODITE Flowers, in botany. These are so called by the sexualists on account of their containing both the antheræ and stigma, the pretended organs of generation, within the same calix and petals. Of this kind are the flowers of all the classes in Linnæus's sexual method, except the classes monozia and diavia; in the former of which, male and female flowers are produced on the same root; in the latter, in distinct plants from the same seed. — In the class polygamia, there are always hermaphrodite flowers mixed with male or female, or both, either on the same or distinct roots. In the plantain-tree the flowers are all hermaphrodite; in some, however, the antheræ or male organ, in others the stigma or female organ, proves abortive. The flowers in the former case are styled female hermaphrodites; in the latter, male hermaphrodites. — Hermaphrodites are thus as frequent in the vegetable kingdom as they are rare and scarce in the animal one.