Gynoecium is the female reproductive part of a flower; it's the innermost whorl. Think of it as the flower's "female reproductive organ."
Understanding the Gynoecium
The gynoecium is composed primarily of one or more carpels. Each carpel typically consists of three parts:
- Ovary: This houses the ovules, which develop into seeds after fertilization.
- Style: A slender stalk connecting the ovary to the stigma.
- Stigma: The receptive surface for pollen.
Carpels can be arranged in two ways:
- Apocarpous: Separate, individual carpels.
- Syncarpous: Multiple carpels fused together.
Understanding the structure of the gynoecium is crucial in plant biology and botany, as it plays a vital role in sexual reproduction in flowering plants. The arrangement of carpels within the gynoecium is a key characteristic used in plant classification and identification.
