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How do simple pistils and compound pistils differ?
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plant reproductive system
A large bumblebee (Bombus species) pollinating a teasel flower head (Dipsacus species).
In the study of the plant reproductive system, the primary difference between simple and compound pistils lies in the number of carpels—the leaflike, ovule-bearing structures—that compose them.12
- Simple Pistil: This type of pistil is constructed from a single carpel. An example of a plant with a simple pistil is the sweet pea.12
- Compound Pistil: This type of pistil is formed by the fusion of two or more carpels. These carpels may be partially or completely joined together. Examples include the mustard plant, which has two carpels, and the lily, which has three.12
Flowers containing a single pistil with multiple united carpels are described as syncarpous, whereas flowers that possess separate, individual pistils (and thus separate carpels) are termed apocarpous. In compound pistils, the number of internal chambers, or locules, within the ovary often reflects the number of carpels that have fused to form the structure.132