Flower - Gynoecium

Description:

Gynoecium is the female reproductive part. It is also called the pistil or carpel. A carpel has three parts namely stigma, style and ovary.

Stigma

• Stigma is the tip of the female structure which is the receptive surface for pollen grains which contain male gametes for sexual reproduction.
• The stigma may be lobed, funnel-shaped, branched or feathery.
• The surface of stigma may be hairy, sticky, smooth or rough.

Style

• Slender projection of the ovary meant for raising the stigma on which pollen grains are deposited during pollination.
• Connects the ovary and the stigma.

Ovary

• Enlarged basal part of a flower.
• It contains one or more chambers or loculi.
• Each ovary bears one or more ovules attached to placenta.
• The wall of the ovary after fertilization transforms into a part of fruit known as pericarp.
• After fertilization ovary develops into a fruit while ovules form seeds.