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How do simple pistils differ from compound pistils?
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angiosperm
Snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) in bloom.
In the study of angiosperms, the pistil serves as the female reproductive organ of a flower and is composed of one or more carpels, which are modified, seed-bearing leaves. The primary difference between simple and compound pistils lies in the number of these carpels and their structural arrangement:
- Simple Pistils: A simple pistil is composed of a single carpel. An example of a plant with a simple pistil is the sweet pea.1
- Compound Pistils: A compound pistil is composed of two or more carpels that are partially or completely fused together. Examples include the mustard plant, which has two fused carpels, and the lily, which has three.1
Botanically, a flower containing a single pistil made of united carpels is described as syncarpous, whereas a flower with separate, individual pistils is termed apocarpous. The number of ovule-containing chambers, or locules, within the ovary often indicates the number of carpels present in a compound pistil.12