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Hypogynous The image to the right is a long section through a Flower with a Hypogynous Ovary.The Ovaries of such flowers are said to be Superior!
Note that the Carpels of this Rubus Flower Bud occupy the Summit of the Receptacle! |
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Perigynous Flowers.
The word Perigynous means Around the Ovary. Perigynous flowers have a Floral Tube or Hypanthium. This is composed of two or more extra-carpellate floral parts which are fused into a common structure. Fusion of unlike floral parts is called Adnation.
The Hypanthium surrounds the Ovary but is NOT fused to it. Consequently, the other floral parts (sepals, petals & stamens) appear to originate from the Hypanthium and thus surround the Ovary.
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Long sections through two Prunus Flower Buds: Note that the Hypanthium & the Ovary Wall are NOT fused, but the other floral parts originate from the Hypanthium above the level of the Ovary. |
Wild Rose
 Diagram of a Wild Rose Flower & Fruit. The Hypanthium becomes fleshy in the mature fruit. The true fruits are dry Achenes. This is an Accessory Fruit in that non-floral structures are part of the "Fruit". |
 Wild Rose Flower & Immature Fruits
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 Open Rose Fruit which
reveals the hairy Achenes
which are the |
The Sepals, Petals & Stamens appear to originate from the top of the Ovary with Epigynous Flowers like those of Apple (Pyrus). Epigynous means Above the Ovary!!! This designation is due to the fact that the Hypanthium is Adnate to the Ovary Wall (Pericarp).
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 Apples!!!!! |
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Consequently, the Fruits are called Accessory due to the fused Hypanthium which is part of the total "Fruit".It is the Hypanthium which forms most of the edible part of an apple. The papery layer is the innermost layer of the Ovary Wall & is called the Endocarp. The Dark line that surrounds the center of the fruit is the Outer Layer of the Ovary Wall & is called the Exocarp. The Mesocarp is the edible portion between the Exo & Endocarp.
