Flower Ovary
Flower Ovary
Flower Ovary
Ovary
Collectively the ovary, style and stigma make up the female parts of the flower. This is variably called a carpel, pistil or gynoecium.
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Ovary
The ovary is derived from one to many carpels that contain the ovules. The ovary becomes the fruit, carpels are usually indicative of the number of locules in the fruit and the ovules become the seeds within the locules.
Locule Ovules
Ovary
Sarracenia Lillium
Main menu
Flower Parts
Ovary position
The position of the ovary is characteristic of different plant families. The ovary can be above the other flower parts, below the flower parts or held up on a special structure called a hypanthium.
Superior (Hypogynous)
Back to main flower menu
Back Next
Intermediate (Perigynous)
Back to flower parts menu
Inferior (Epigynous)
Main menu
Flower Parts
Ovary position
A hypogynous flower has a superior ovary that is above the other flower parts. St. Johns wort is a good example of this type of ovary position.
Stamens Petals
Ovary
Sepals
Superior (Hypogynous)
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Ovary position
A perigynous flower is characterized by having a receptacle cup (hypanthium) that surrounds the ovary. The floral parts initiate from this cup.
Stamens Petals
Sepals
Ovary Hypanthium
Intermediate (Perigynous)
Back to main flower menu
Back Next
Open flower
Balloonflower (Platycodon)
Back to flower parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Ovary position
A epigynous flower has an inferior ovary. Evening primrose nicely shows the separation between the ovary and the other flower parts.
Stamens
Stamens
Petals
Inferior (Epigynous)
Fuschia (Fuschia)
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Ovules are arranged in patterns within the ovary on placental connections.
Ovary placentation
Basal
Axile
Parietal
Free central
Main menu
Flower Parts
Basal placentation
In basal placentation, the ovule is located at the base of the ovary. The ovary often comprised of a single chamber called a locule.
Linden Ovary
Tilia tomentosa
Ovule
Placenta
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Basal placentation
When the ovule is located at the pedicel end of the ovary it is termed erect and when the ovule is located at the opposite end of the ovary it is termed pendulous.
Erect placentation
Pendulous placentation
Ovule
Linden
Tilia tomentosa
Cherry
Prunus cerasus
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Basal placentation
At first glance, many aggregate fruits appear to have free central or axial placentation. However, aggregate fruits are actually groupings of attached individual ovaries usually with a single ovule often with basal placentation.
Ovary
Ovule
Sweet gum
Liquidambar styricaflua
Sweet bay
Magnolia glabra
Back
Main menu
Flower Parts
Parietal placentation
In parietal placentation, the ovule is attached to the ovary wall. The simplest form is seen in the pod where ovules are attached along one edge of the ovary.
Ovary Ovule
Placenta
False indigo
Back to main flower menu
Next
Baptisia pendula
Back to ovary menu Back to flower parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Parietal placentation
In a developing peony pod you can clearly see the ovules on short placenta attached in rows on the folded edge of the ovary. You can also clearly see that there are no partitions in the ovary (a single locule).
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Parietal placentation
In the chelondine poppy, three rows of ovules attach at three locations on the ovary. In this case, ovules have a very short placenta. Ovary Ovule
Placenta
Chelondine poppy
Stylophorum diphyllum
Aborted ovule
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Parietal placentation
Cactus can appear to have a riot of ovules in the ovary because they are borne on long placentas. If you look closely, you will see that the placentation is parietal. Ovary Ovule
Placenta
Cactus Echinopsis
Aborted ovule
Back
Main menu
Flower Parts
Axile placentation
In Axile placentation, ovules are attached to a central axis in an ovary with numerous partitions called locules.
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Axile placentation
In Axile placentation, ovules are attached to a central axis in an ovary with numerous partitions called locules.
Day lily
Back to main flower menu
Back Next
Hemerocallis
Back to flower parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Axile placentation
Ovaries with three locules in axile placentation are typical of monocots.
Lily
Lillium
Iris
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Axile placentation
Foxglove is an example of an ovary with two fused carpels and two locules with axile placentation.
Developing ovary Nearly mature ovary
Ovary
Locules
Ovule
Central axis
Foxglove
Digitalis
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Axile placentation
Dicots typically have two, four, five , or more locules within an ovary.
Love-in-a-mist
Pitcher plant
Nigella
Sarracenia
Back to main flower menu
Back Next
Balloon flower
Back to ovary menu
Platycodon
Back to flower parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Axile placentation
Blueberry shows the typical star-shape seen in many fleshy ovaries that will become berries. The star-shape is created by the axine placentation but the individual locules can be difficult to see in the fleshy fruit.
Ovary Ovule
Central axis
Blueberry
Vaccinium
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Axile placentation
In kiwi fruit there is a high percentage of fertilized ovules with many ovules per locule and many locules. In serviceberry There are only two ovules per locule and most of the ovules have aborted due to lack of fertilization except for a pair in one locule.
Kiwi Actinidia
Aborted Ovules
Serviceberry Amelanchier
Ovary
Ovule Central axis
Locule
Back
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
The placenta in some ovaries can be elaborate and extend into the locule. Although similar in appearance St. Johns wort ovaries have a single locule with parietal placentation and monkey flower has two locules making its placentation axile. Axile Parietal Ovary Ovule
Placenta
Locule
Ovary Ovule Placenta
St Johns wort
Back to main flower menu
Hypericum
Back
Locule
Back to ovary menu
Monkey flower
Mumulus
Main menu
Flower Parts
Free central placentation
In free central placentation, ovules are attached to a central axis in an ovary with only a single locule.
Next
Main menu
Flower Parts
Free central placentation
Shooting star has an ovary of five fused carpels as a single locule. Ovules are produced just below the ovary wall.
Back
Main menu