Question

A multicarpellary, syncarpous gynoecium is found in
A) Papaver
B) Michelia
C) Hibiscus
D) More than one option is correct

Answer 1

Hint: Gynoecium is often referred to as the female reproductive part that usually takes part in the reproductive process. Carpels are the part that is present on the thalamus that may be free or fused ranging from one to more in the gynoecium. We must infer the floral character of gynoecium to get to the answer.

Complete answer:
The gynoecium is the female reproductive part of the flowers and is made up of one or more carpels. Carpels are the female reproductive part of a flower. Stigma, style and ovary are the three main parts of the carpel. Style is the elongated tube that connects the receptive surface for pollen grains to the ovaries. The pollen grains travel through style to reach the ovaries from the surface when pollination occurs. The ovaries contain many ovules that are attached to a cushion-like tissue, the placenta.

When more than one carpel is present, they may be free and are called apocarpous. They are termed syncarpous when carpels are fused. Gynoecium that contains a single carpel is called monocarpellary, two as bicarpellary, three as tri- carpellary and more as multicarpellary or polycarpellary.

Let us study the gynoecium in each case:
Papaver- The carpels are two or more syncarpous, ovary is superior, unilocular, persistent forming a crown in the fruit, parietal placentation, ovules are numerous, stigma sessile, multicarpellary.
Michelia- There are numerous carpels, free, superior, spiral on a cone-shaped that is elongated on the thalamus, rarely carpels are fused, placentation is marginal, apocarpous.
Hibiscus- pentacarpellary, syncarpous, ovary superior, pentalocular with axile placentation, style single, long and passing through the staminal tube, stigma 5, capitate covered with velvety growth, red, many ovules in each locule of the ovary, ovules anatropous.
Hibiscus and papaver are the plants that contain multicarpellary and syncarpous gynoecium.

So, the correct answer is option D, More than one option.

Note: Hibiscus belongs to the Malvaceae family with common names as shoe flower or china rose. They are generally beautiful ornamental with large showy flowers. Infusion of flowers causes itching and painful skin diseases and as a diuretic. All parts of the Hibiscus species have medicinal importance.