Sequential hermaphroditism (called
dichogamy in
botany) is a type of
hermaphroditism that occurs in many
fish,
gastropoda and plants. Sequential hermaphroditism occurs when the individual changes sex at some point in its life. They can change from a male to female (
protandry), or from female to male (
protogyny) or from female to hermaphrodite (
protogynous hermaphroditism), or from male to hermaphrodite (
protandrous hermaphroditism). Those that change gonadal sex can have both female and male germ cells in the gonads or can change from one complete gonadal type to the other during their last life stage. Individual flowers are also called sequentially hermaphrodite, although the plant as a whole may have functionally male and functionally female flowers open at the same time.