Louisiana Landscape Horticulture State Practice Exam

The female part of the flower is called the pistil. This structure is composed of three main components: the stigma, the style, and the ovary. The stigma is the sticky surface at the top of the pistil that receives pollen. The style is the narrow stalk that connects the stigma to the ovary, where ovules are housed. When pollen lands on the stigma and fertilization occurs, it typically takes place within the ovary, which then develops into seeds. The pistil plays a crucial role in reproduction, ensuring that the plant can produce seeds and propagate.

While the stamen is the male reproductive part of the flower, consisting of the anther and filament, the ovary is just one part of the pistil. Petals are the colorful parts of a flower that attract pollinators but are not involved in reproduction themselves. Understanding these components helps in comprehending the reproductive biology of flowering plants.