Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

In botany, the placenta is the part of the carpel (a modified leaf) where ovules (which develop into seeds) are attached. The arrangement of these ovules within the ovary is called placentation, and it's a key characteristic for classifying plants.1

Placentation can vary:
* Submarginal: Typically found in simple pistils, where ovules are attached near the leaf margin.1
* Parietal: Ovules are along the inner ovary walls, with carpels joined at their edges.1
* Axile: Carpels fold inward, and ovules are along the central axis of the ovary.1
* Free central: Similar to axile, but the central column bearing ovules is not connected to the ovary wall.1
* Basal: Ovules are attached to the very bottom of the ovary.1
* Laminar: Ovules are scattered across the inner surfaces of the carpels.1

These arrangements are important for understanding plant reproduction and classification.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.