CARPELS Meaning and
Definition
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Carpels, also referred to as pistils, are reproductive structures found in the flowers of angiosperms (flowering plants). They represent the female reproductive organs of a flower and are essential for sexual reproduction. Carpels are usually located at the center of the flower and are composed of several distinct parts, including the stigma, style, and ovary.
The stigma is the sticky, often enlarged, structure at the top of the carpel. It is responsible for receiving pollen during the process of pollination. The style is a slender tube-like structure that connects the stigma to the ovary. Its main function is to facilitate the growth of the pollen tube, allowing fertilization to occur.
The ovary is the bulbous base of the carpel. It contains one or more ovules, which are responsible for producing the female gametes (eggs). Fertilization takes place when a pollen grain travels down the style and reaches the ovule, where it fuses with the egg cell. After fertilization, the ovary develops into a fruit, enclosing the seeds that result from the fertilized egg.
Carpels can occur singly or in multiples within a flower, depending on the species. In some plants, the carpels may be fused together, forming a compound pistil. Carpels play a crucial role in angiosperm reproduction, allowing for the production of seeds and ensuring the survival and propagation of flowering plants.
Common Misspellings for CARPELS
Etymology of CARPELS
The word "carpel" has its etymology from the late 19th-century French word "carpelle", which stems from the Latin word "carpum". "Carpum" refers to a small fruit or pod. The Latin origin can be traced back further to the Greek word "karpos", meaning "fruit". In botanical terms, carpels are the female reproductive organ of a flower that encloses the ovules and eventually develops into a fruit after fertilization.
Similar spelling words for CARPELS
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