Question

When the carpels are fused, the gynoecium is called _______.

Answer 1

Carpel/Gynoecium :

1. The fourth whorl of a flower is called gynoecium or pistil.
2. It consists of one or more carpels(several carpels are collectively termed gynoecium).

A carpel is composed of three parts:

(i) Ovary:

The basal swollen structure that bears ovules is called the ovary.

(ii) Style:

A column of tissues that arises from the ovary is a style.

(iii) Stigma:

It is a receptive glandular part placed at the tip of the style.

1. The carpels in the ovary may be free from one another or fused.
2. The ovary is described as syncarpous, when the carpels are united e.g., Ricinus, Citrus.

Final answer: When the carpels are fused, the gynoecium is called syncarpous.