Describe structure and types of Gynoecium.

$\rightarrow$ Gynoecium : It is the female reproductive part of the flower and is made up of one or more carpels.

$\rightarrow$ A carpel consists of three parts.

$\rightarrow$ Ovary is the enlarged basal part, on which lies the elongated tube.

$\rightarrow$ The style connects the ovary to the stigma.

$\rightarrow$ The stigma is usually at the tip of the style and is the receptive surface for pollen grains.

$\rightarrow$ Each ovary bears one or more ovules attached to a flattened, cushion-like placenta.

$\rightarrow$ Types of Gynoecium : When there is only one carpel in Gynoecium it is called monocarpellary e.g. Peas.

$\rightarrow$ When more than one carpels are present in Gynoecium it is called polycarpellary.

$\rightarrow$ In polycarpellary Gynoecium if all carpels are free from each other then it is called Apocarpous e.g. lotus, rose.

$\rightarrow$ If all carpels are fused it is termed as syncarpous. In such cases there is only one ovary e.g. Tomato, Mustard.

$\rightarrow$ Carpel is considered as female structure.

$\rightarrow$ Androecium and Gynoecium are necessary for sexual reproduction. Therefore they are called necessary whorls.

$\rightarrow$ After fertilisation, the ovules develop into seeds and the ovary matures into a fruit.