The female part of a flower is called the carpel.
Understanding the Female Flower Parts
The carpel is the key component defining a flower's female reproductive structure. It's often the easiest part to visually identify. A carpel typically includes several important parts:
- Stigma: The sticky top part of the carpel that receives pollen.
- Style: The stalk-like structure connecting the stigma to the ovary.
- Ovary: The base of the carpel containing the ovules (potential seeds).
- Ovules: These are the female reproductive cells that, after fertilization by pollen, develop into seeds.
Flowers may have one or more carpels. The visible parts of the carpel, the stigma and style, are frequently used to identify the female portion of the flower. The ovary, hidden within the flower, contains the ovules – the crucial component for seed production. The reference states: "The female part that is easiest to see in the flower is the carpel." This highlights the carpel's importance in identifying the female aspect of a flower.
