Carpel

What is Carpel

Carpel is the female reproductive part of a flower. A flower can have one or more carpels. All the carpels together are termed gynoecium or pistil. A pistil may contain a single carpel or multiple carpels fused together.

Structure

Carpel contains three parts:

i) Stigma – Sticky, knob-like head of the carpel.

ii) Style – Long, slender, stalk-like structure, connecting the stigma and ovary.

iii) Ovary – Base of the carpel, containing the eggs or ovules.

Function

Stigma receives pollen grains and germinates them.
Style supports the stigma and connects it to the ovary. It also carries the pollen from the stigma via pollen tube.
Ovary produces the female sex cells or ovules. It also helps in the development and nourishment of the embryo.