WB01343_1.gif (599 bytes)

 Flowers & Fruits-1  WB01339_1.gif (896 bytes)

WB01338_.gif (869 bytes) The Morphological Unit of the Gynoecium
is the
Carpel.

The term Pistil has been used in the past to describe the gynoecium and this can cause some confusion in terminology.

A Gynoecium of a flower may contain 1 Carpel, 2 Carpels or
n Carpels.

The Carpels may be free (Apocarpous) or united (Syncarpous)

Carpel-1Lab.gif (13982 bytes)

WB01338_.gif (869 bytes) A] Model of a Primitive Carpel with Ovules distributed at the Margin of the Leaf

Carpel-1TransPet3DLab.gif (14413 bytes)
B] The Transparent Blade shows the Midrib with a Midvein. Minor Veins are not shown.

CarpelFolding.jpg (11812 bytes)

C] Model of a Primitive Carpel which has become folded  but the Ovules are still marginal  

SimpleCarpelLab.gif (21311 bytes)
D] Primitive Carpel which has folded and fused so that the Ovules are surrounded by the Lamina which is now called the Pericarp

 ApoCarpXS-1Lab.gif (26255 bytes)
E] Cross Section of a Simple Carpel: Some Gynoecia contain one Simple Carpel.

ApocarpousGynoLab.jpg (51293 bytes)
F] In other cases the Gynoecium may have several Simple, Free Carpels. This is called an
G] Apocarpous Gynoecium.
ApaCarpXS-3-3DLab.gif (32133 bytes)

WB01342_1.gif (1360 bytes)

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