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 The Gynoecium

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The Tables below illustrates how an ancestral carpel evolved to produce Apocarpous and Syncarpous Gynoecia.

Apocarpus Gynoecium (Apo means Separate)

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A] A Primitive Carpel with Ovules distributed at the Margin of the Leaf

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B] The Transparent Blade shows the Midrib.

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C] A Primitive Carpel which has become folded  but the Ovules are still marginal  

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D] Primitive Carpel which has folded and fused along the margin so that the Ovules are enclosed & surrounded by the Lamina.

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E] Cross Section of a Simple Carpel. Some Flowers like Legumes have a Gynoecium of One Simple Carpel

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F] In some cases the Gynoecium may have several Simple, Free Carpels. This is called an Apocarpous Gynoecium.

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G] Cross Section for an Apocarpous Gynoecium with 3 Carpels

Syncarpous Gynoecium

The word Syncarpous means Fused Carpels. Obviously, a syncarpous gynoecium must have two or more carpels!!!!! These can be fused at their margins creating one Locule, or they can become closed carpels which are fused secondarily creating several Locules.

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A] Cross Section of an Apocarpous Gynoecium with three Carpels
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B] Cross Section of a Syncarpous Gynoecium with Three Carpels.

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A Syncarpous Gynoecium of three Carpels.

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Cross Section of a Syncarpous Gynoecium with the Carpels fused at their margins.

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