Ovary (plants)
For Ovary as part of animals see Ovary |
Longitudinal section of female flower of squash showing ovary, ovules, pistil, and petals |
In the
flowering plants, an
ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or
gynoecium. Specifically, it is the part of the
carpel which holds the
ovule(s) and is located at the basal portion of the flower. After
pollination, the ovary will grow into the fruit, while the ovule(s) become the seed(s). Some wind pollinated flowers have much reduced and modified ovaries. The carpels together are called
gynoecium.
A
superior ovary is an ovary attached to the receptacle above the attachment of other floral parts. A superior ovary is found in types of fleshy fruits such as
Berry,
Drupe, etc. A flower that may be given as an example is
Hypericum calycinum.
An
inferior ovary lies below the attachment of other floral parts.
Pome is a type of fleshy fruit, that may be cited as an example. The flower of
Fuchsia has an inferior ovary.
