Question

What do you mean by superior and inferior ovaries?

Answer 1

Hint: The flowering plants undergo sexual reproduction by the fusion of pollen grain that is the male reproductive organs and ovary that is the female reproductive part to undergo fertilization and zygote formation. But different flowers have different positions for the ovary based on that classification.

Complete Answer:
- Ovary is the basal enlarged part of the pistil of the female reproductive organ of a flower. The ovary consists of the ovules that formed as a seed after fertilization.
- The ovary itself developed in fruits enclosing the seed. Simple or the unicarpellate ovary is produced from a single carpel and the ovule is found inside the locule.
- The multi carpellate ovary comprises more than one carpel and locules.
- During the classification of ovary it is based on the position of the ovary, if the ovary is found above other floral parts then it is named as superior ovary and if attached below the other floral part they are named as inferior ovary.
- Or in more details we can say that, when the ovary is found at the upper part of the thalamus compared to other holes then this type of ovary is the superior ovary, for example; in mustard, brinjal, and china rose superior ovary is observed.
- When the margin of thalamus is developed in an inward direction including the complete ovary and fused with it and the other parts arise above it then this type of ovary is the inferior ovary, for example; in cucumber and guava inferior ovary is observed.

Note: The epigynous and the perigynous flowers are two types of flowers that have inferior ovary. One more type of ovary termed as oblique ovary is found in Solanaceae family. It consists of gynoecium that is bicarpellary, superior ovary, syncarpous, and obliquely placed, in this case the placenta has many swollen ovules.