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Ovary
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Diagram showing the reproductive process in flowering plants, from pollen transfer on the anther to the stigma, fertilization inside the ovary, seed formation, and growth of a seedling. Key parts like pistil, stamen, pollen grain, and seed embryo are labeled. Close-up of a blooming Rose of Sharon (Hypericum calycinum) flower with bright yellow petals and numerous long stamens, surrounded by green leaves. An inferior ovary at the base of the flower of Fuchsia precedes the floral tube formed by the four sepals and four petals. flower parts angiosperm floral anatomy
How different plants store their seeds
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Diagram showing the reproductive process in flowering plants, from pollen transfer on the anther to the stigma, fertilization inside the ovary, seed formation, and growth of a seedling. Key parts like pistil, stamen, pollen grain, and seed embryo are labeled.
How flowering plants reproduce Reproduction in flowering plants begins with pollination, the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma on the same flower or to the stigma of another flower on the same plant (self-pollination) or from the anther on one plant to the stigma of another plant (cross-pollination). Once the pollen grain lodges on the stigma, a pollen tube grows from the pollen grain to an ovule. Two sperm nuclei then pass through the pollen tube. One of them unites with the egg nucleus and produces a zygote. The other sperm nucleus unites with two polar nuclei to produce an endosperm nucleus. The fertilized ovule develops into a seed.

Ovary

plant
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Ovary, in botany, enlarged basal portion of the pistil, the female organ of a flower. The ovary contains ovules, which develop into seeds upon fertilization. The ovary itself will mature into a fruit, either dry or fleshy, enclosing the seeds.

A simple or unicarpellate ovary is formed from a single carpel, an evolutionarily modified leaf. It has one locule (chamber), within which are the ovules. A multicarpellate ovary consists of more than one carpel and may have one or more locules.

Close-up of a blooming Rose of Sharon (Hypericum calycinum) flower with bright yellow petals and numerous long stamens, surrounded by green leaves.
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Rose of SharonThe brilliant regular flower of Hypericum calycinum (rose of Sharon) develops a superior ovary with five spreading styles at its apex and numerous stamens arranged in five clusters (fascicles) emanating from below the base of the ovary.
An inferior ovary at the base of the flower of Fuchsia precedes the floral tube formed by the four sepals and four petals.
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An inferior ovary at the base of the flower of Fuchsia precedes the floral tube formed by the four sepals and four petals.

Ovary position is a useful feature in classification. An ovary attached above other floral parts is termed superior (see photograph); when it lies below the attachment of other floral parts, it is inferior (see photograph).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.