Anjali Mishra Content Writer-SME
Content Writer-SME
Carpel and pistil are the female reproductive structures of a flower which differ in composition, function, seed production, fertilization, etc. A mature flower structure is composed of both vegetative and reproductive parts. The vegetative parts include sepals, petals, roots, shoots, stems, and leaves.
The reproductive structures of a flower include the stamen, pistil, and carpel. Both pistil and carpel are considered as reproductive parts of a flower but production of seeds takes place only in carpels. In this article, the differences between carpels and pistils along with their roles in angiospermic plants are discussed in detail.
Parts of a Flower Diagram
Difference between Carpel and Pistil
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Although they both refer to a flower's female reproductive organs, the names pistil and carpel have different definitions and uses. A carpel is distinguished by the presence of an ovary, style and stigma while several carpels form a pistil. Apart from this, some more difference between carpel and pistil are mentioned below in a tabulated form:
| Basis of Comparison | Carpel | Pistil |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Carpels are considered as the female reproductive structure of a flower. | Several fused carpels together constitute a leaf-like structure called pistil. |
| Nature | Female reproductive structure of a flower. | Ovule-bearing or seed-bearing structure of a flower. |
| Identification | Several styles are present. | Several carpels are present in place of styles. |
| Composition | It is composed of the ovary, style, and stigma. | It is composed of one or more carpels. |
| Functions | It functions as the dispersal of seeds. | Functions as the female reproductive structure of the flower. |
| Production of Egg Cells | Egg cell(s) are produced. | Egg cell(s) are not produced. |
| Fertilization | Carpels undergo fertilization. | Carpels do not undergo fertilization. |
| Production of Seeds | It does produce seeds. | It does not produce seeds. |
| Importance | The number of styles in a flower helps in identifying the number of carpels. | The number of ovaries in a flower helps in identifying the number of pistils. |
Definition of Carpel Vs Pistil
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Pistil and carpel are used interchangeably in the structure of plants but there is a slight difference between them in terms of nature and structure.
What is Carpel?
A pistil is made from several leaf-like structures called carpel. A carpel is also considered as female reproductive part of a flower which is usually recognized as the modified ovule-bearing leaves or megasporophylls. The location of the carpel is usually in the center of the flower.
They play an important role in protecting the ovule and enabling fertilization in plants.One of the main differences between carpel and pistil is the presence of carpels in three different states in different flowers which are as follows:
- Monocarpous Condition: If a pistil is made up of one carpel, it is known as monocarpous. An example of monocarpous flower is sweet pea.
- Apocarpous Condition: A pistil made up of more than one free, distinct, unfused carpel, is called apocarpous. An example of apocarpous flower include lily.
- Syncarpous Condition: If the pistil is composed of multiple and fused carpels, it is called syncarpous flowers. Tomato and mustard flowers are the examples of syncarpous flower.
What is Pistil?
A pistil is the female reproductive organ of a flower that is typically composed of an ovary, style, and apical pollen-receiving structure called the stigma. The pistil collectively forms the gynoecium. The gynoecium, an innermost whorl, consists of one or more separate pistils.
- Ovary: It is the basal structure of a flower that contains placental tissue and one or more ovule-bearing ridges, also known as megasporangium.
- Style: It is an elongated slender pillar-like structure through which the pollen tube grows during fertilization. In some flowers, the style is absent or indistinct and the apical stigma is directly on the ovary.
- Stigma: It is the apical structure of the pistil and is usually waxy and sticky to collect the pollen grains which is later mediated or transferred by insects or wind.
Function of Carpel Vs Pistil
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A pistil is a group of fused carpels, while a carpel is a unit of the female reproductive system in a flower. This is the primary distinction between these two. Difference between carpel and pistil can also be outlined by understanding their roles in a flower.
Functions of Carpel
The major roles of carpel in a flower are as follows:
- Development of Ovules: Carpel is the main site for development of ovules into seeds.
- Dispersal of Seeds: It plays a major role in dispersal of seeds at the time of maturity.
- Prevention of Self-fertilization: Dichogamy and self incompability are the two strategies utilised by carpels to prevent self fertilization.
Functions of Pistil
Following are some important functions of pistil:
- Development of Fruit: The difference between carpel and pistil is that the pistil helps in the development of the fruit.
- Protection: In a flower, the pistil acts as a protective layer for the ovule present inside it.
- Pollination: The stigma of the pistil acts as a landing site for pollen and thus helps in pollination.
- Genetic Diversity: Genetic diversity in plants is contributed by the pistil.
Conclusion
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Although, both pistil and carpel are considered as female reproductive part of a flower. However, the primary difference between carpel and pistil arises in terms of nature, function, and composition.
The production of seeds after fertilization are the main distinguishing feature of carpels. Moreover, the number of carpels are recognized by the presence of number of styles. In conclusion, the pistil is the main reproductive structure composed up of one or more carpels, whereas carpels are the building blocks.
Things to Remember
- The male reproductive part of the flower is called the androecium.
- The Gynoecium contains one or more pistils and is the female reproductive part of the flower.
- The study of flowering plants is called Anthology.
- Staminate flowers contain only male reproductive structures.
- Carpel and pistil differ in functions and composition.
Sample Questions
Ques: Is carpel and pistil same? (2 marks)
Ans: Carpel and Pistil are used interchangeably and are the female reproductive parts of the flower.
- The carpels are considered as the units of the pistil and has modified leaf-bearing ovules consisting of – an ovary, style, and apical stigma.
- Pistil on the other hand is made up of one or more carpels.
Ques: What do you understand by ‘apocarpous’ pistil? (1 mark)
Ans: When the gynoecium is made up of more than one unfused and distinct carpel it is called an apocarpous pistil.
Ques: What do you understand by ‘syncarpous’ pistil? (1 mark)
Ans: When the gynoecium consists of more than one carpel but the carpels are fused to become a single structure, it is called a syncarpous pistil.
Ques: What do you mean by the term ‘gynoecium’? (1 mark)
Ans: The term ‘gynoecium’ is defined as the innermost whorl of a flower that serves as the female reproductive part of the plant. It consists of a basal ovule-bearing structure called an ovary, a slender stalk-like structure, called style, and a terminal pollen-receiving structure, named stigma.
Ques. What are the four major parts of a flower? (2 marks)
Ans: The four major parts of a flower are:
- Outermost whorl: Contains calyx and is made up of sepals which are usually freen.
- Second whorl: Corolla, made up of petals and they can of different colours.
- Third Whorl: Androecium, which is a group of stamens and they serve as a male reproductive organ.
- Innermost Whorl: Gynoecium, made of pistils, and it serves as a female reproductive organ.
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