A "recessive" trait is a characteristic that is not expressed in an individual unless two copies of the recessive gene are present. In genetics, traits are determined by alleles, which are different forms of a gene. If an individual has one dominant allele and one recessive allele, the dominant trait will be visible, while the recessive trait remains hidden. For example, in Mendelian genetics, the pea plant experiments showed that the color of the flowers can be either purple or white. The purple color is dominant, while the white color is recessive. Only when a plant inherits two white alleles will it display white flowers.