Table of Contents

• What is Ovary?
• Parts of Ovary
• Classification of Ovary
• Superior Ovary
• Half-inferior Ovary
• Inferior Ovary
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ovary?

Ovary is the female reproductive organ found in flowering plants. It is found in the gynoecium of the flower. It forms a part of the pistil, it contains the ovules and is situated at the base or point of meeting of sepals and petals. The pistil may have a single carpel or several carpels fused together.

The style and the stigma are located above the ovary. The pollen lands on the stigma, travels through the style to reach the ovary and get fertilised by binding with the ovule.

Parts of Ovary

The ovary of the flowers and fruits are divided into chambers called locules. Based on the number of the chambers, the ovary can be unilocular, bilocular or multilocular. The carpels are separated from each other by the formation of the septum in some plants. The number of carpels and locules may be the same or different, depending on the presence of the septum.

The ovules in the ovary are attached to the inner ovary walls by the placenta. The placenta can be placed in various positions depending upon carpels and ovaries. An outgrowth of the placenta called obturator is present in some plants near the micropyle of each ovule that helps in nourishing and guiding the pollen tube towards the micropyle.

Classification of Ovary

On the basis of position, the ovary can be classified into three types:

Superior Ovary

When the ovary is attached to the receptacle of the flower, above the other floral whorls, it is known as the superior ovary. Such ovaries are found in fleshy fruits such as berries and drupes. The flower that has a superior ovary is termed as hypogynous. Examples: pea, beans

Half-inferior Ovary

When the ovary is embedded and surrounded by receptacles in the flower, it is known as half-inferior ovary. The flowers with half-inferior ovaries are called perigynous. This type of ovary can be seen in the family of Lythraceae in plants such as crape myrtles. In this type, the ovary is half above and half below the insertion point.

Inferior Ovary

When the ovary is present below the attachment point of other floral parts on the flower, it is called an inferior ovary. This type of ovary can be seen in pome fruits. The flowers which have an inferior ovary are termed as epigynous. Examples: orchids, Fuschia

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Also Read:

• The Longitudinal Section of Flower- An Overview
• Gynoecium – An Overview on Structure and Placentation
• What Is Floral Formula? Definition and Construction
• Important Questions from Morphology of Flowering Plants