Carpel
/ˈkɑrpəl/
Definition
Carpel refers to the female reproductive structure of a flower. A single carpel consists of an ovary, which contains one or more ovules, and may also include a style and stigma. One flower can have one carpel or several, either separate or fused together. carpel differs from pistil because a pistil may be made of one carpel or multiple fused carpels.
Function in Plants
- Site of ovule development: A carpel encloses the ovules, where female reproductive cells develop and where seeds begin to form after successful pollination and fertilization.
- Source of fruit tissue: After fertilization, the ovary within a carpel often develops into fruit tissue, so its structure helps determine whether a plant produces berries, pods, capsules, or other fruit types.
- Clue for flower identification: The number of carpels and whether they are separate or fused are key traits in botany. These features help identify plant families and distinguish similar-looking flowers.
- Influence on pollination pathway: The shape and arrangement of a carpel affect how pollen reaches the ovules. In many flowers, the stigma and style guide pollen tubes toward fertilization.
Related Terms
Pistil
Pistil refers to the female reproductive structure of a flower. It consists of one carpel or several fused carpels and…
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is the female reproductive structure of a flower. It consists of one or more carpels, which may be separate…
Ovary
Ovary refers to the enlarged basal part of a flower’s pistil, or female reproductive structure, that contains one or…
Ovule
Ovule is the seed-producing structure inside a flower’s ovary, or on the scales of cones in gymnosperms. It contains…
Stigma
Stigma is the pollen-receptive tip or surface of a flower’s pistil, the female reproductive structure. It is usually…
Style
Style refers to the slender stalk-like part of a flower’s pistil, the female reproductive structure, that connects the…
Placenta
Placenta refers to the tissue inside a flower’s ovary where one or more ovules are attached. It is a plant structure…
Placentation
Placentation describes the arrangement of ovules inside a flower’s ovary and the way they are attached to the placenta…