What Is The Pistil of a Flower?

Flowers are beautiful things, coming in a range of colors and shapes. They offer a variety of fine scents. They are also complex things that have a number of parts, one of them being the pistil. This is an important reproductive organ that all flowers need to carry on their line.

Definition

The pistil is the female reproductive organ of a flower. It contains the ovaries and accepts pollen from other flowers.

Carpels

The pistil is composed of carpels, which hold the embryo seed. Some pistils are made up of just one, while others are composed of multiple carpels.

Stigma

Pollen is deposited onto the top of a pistil, called the stigma. This is sticky, allowing the pollen to attach easier.

Pollen Tubes

Pollen tubes are found running between the stigma and the ovaries. This is where genetic material from pollen is transferred to ovules.

Ovules

Ovules can be attached to the outer wall of the ovaries or against the pollen tube inside the ovaries. These are seeds, which act the same way as female eggs in mammals.