Question

The statements given below describe certain features that are observed in the pistil of flowers.
(i) Pistil may have many carpels.
(ii) Each carpel may have more than one ovule.
(iii) Each carpel has only one ovule.
(iv) Pistil has only one carpel.
(A) (i) and (ii)
(B) (i) and (iii)
(C) (ii) and (iv)
(D) (iii) and (iv)

Answer 1

Hint: Pistil, also known as gynoecium is considered as the female reproductive part of the flower. Carpel is the basic unit of gynoecium which consists of an ovary, style and stigma. Carpels can be one or many, and hence the terms monocarpellary and multicarpellary are used. Often the terms, pistil and carpel are used interchangeably.

Complete answer:
A true flower consists of four whorls, namely, calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium. Gynoecium is considered as the female reproductive part of the flower. It is also known as pistil. A single set of ovary, style and stigma is known as carpel. Each gynoecium or pistil may contain a single carpel or many carpels. If gynoecium possesses a single carpel, it is known as monocarpellary and when gynoecium possesses many carpels, it is known as multicarpellary. When many carpels are present, they may be free (apocarpous) or fused with each other (syncarpous).
Ovary is the basal swollen part, from where a slender thread like structure called style arises. The proximal end of the style is attached to the ovary and the distal end of the style possesses stigma. Stigma acts as receptors for the pollen grains.
Each ovary may contain a single or many ovules within it. Ovules are attached to a flattened, cushion-like structure called placenta. After fertilization, ovules gets developed into seeds and ovaries gets developed into fruit.
Understanding the options one by one,
(i) Pistil may have many carpels.
This statement is correct. The pistil or gynoecium may contain a single or many carpels.
(ii) Each carpel may have more than one ovule.
This statement is correct. Each carpel contains an ovary, within which a single or many ovules are present.
(iii) Each carpel has only one ovule.
This statement is incorrect. Each carpel has only one ovary. Ovaries may contain many numbers of ovules.
(iv) Pistil has only one carpel.
This statement is incorrect. Pistil may have only one carpel or many carpels.

Hence the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Often the terms ‘pistil’ and ‘carpel’ are used interchangeably. Carpel (ovary + style + stigma) is the basic unit of a female reproductive part (pistil or gynoecium). Pistil may possess one carpel or many. Some flowers may contain 3 pistils and 3 carpels. And, also few flowers may contain 1 pistil and 3 carpels (fused).