Home page > EN > 4. Reproduction in Angiosperms > 3. Syncarpous gynaecium (pistil): axile or parietal placentation > Axile or parietal placentation in fused carpels
Axile or parietal placentation in fused carpels
Friday 11 February 2005, by ,
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Carpels can be free and gynaecium is apocarpous. If ovaries are entirely fused together, gynaecium is syncarpous.
The following pictures show the 2 main categories of placentation :
when placentation is axile, placentas link seeds and fruit axis : example of a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Solanaceae),
when placentation is parietal, placentas link seeds and fruit wall : example of a kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus, Cucurbitaceae).
The following sketch explains the different evolution states from free carpels in an apocarpous gynaecium to fused carpels in a syncarpous gynaecium with axile or parietal placentations:
Axile placentation. Carpel sides are fused together in septa (plural of septum). Carpel margins are found on the axis of the composed ovary. Ovary is plurilocular. Placentas (conducting tissue for ovules) and ovules are located along the ovary axis: placentation is axile.
Parietal placentation. Carpels are fused by their margins and placentas develop along the composed ovary wall. Ovary is unilocular.
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