Question

Gynoecium of a flower may be apocarpous or syncarpous. Explain with the help of examples.

Answer 1

Hint: Gynoecium is a part of the flower which produces ovules which develop into fruits and seeds. It is the innermost whorl of a flower. Gynoecium can be apocarpous or syncarpous.

Complete answer:
Gynoecium is a part of the flower which produces ovules which develop into fruits and seeds. It is the innermost whorl of a flower which consists of one or more pistils and it is surrounded by pollen producing stamens which is a male reproductive organ and it is collectively known as androecium. Female part is gynoecium which produces megaspores and it gets developed into a female gametophyte to produce egg cells.

Gynoecium can be apocarpous or syncarpous. When gynoecium has multiple, distinct, free and unfused carpels it is known as apocarpous. Carpels are separated from one another, the ovary is always unilocular and it contains a single placenta. If the number of carpels is more than one then the fruit is aggregate. For example, Strawberry have apocarpous gynoecium which means there is presence of multiple, free and un fused carpels.

When gynoecium has multiple carpels fused into a single structure then it is called as syncarpous gynoecium. The degree of fusion varies in this. The carpels may be fused entirely but sometimes carpels are fused by their style or stigmas but possess a distinct ovary. The ovary is always unilocular or multilocular. It does not have a single placenta as the number of placentas is generally more than one. Fruit is simple. For example, tulip. It has syncarpous gynoecium because the carpels are seen fused in tulip.

Therefore, the gynoecium which is the female reproductive organ of the flower can be apocarpous or syncarpous.

Note: There are different kinds of flowers and fruits which can have apocarpous or syncarpous gynoecium as strawberry has apocarpous gynoecium and the tulip and most flowers have syncarpous gynoecium. Therefore, gynoecium can be apocarpous (un fused carpels ) or syncarpous (fused carpels).