Question

Gynoecium consists of many free pistils in flowers of
A. Aloe.
B. Tomato
C. Papaver
D. Michelia.

Answer 1

Gynoecium comprises the parts of the flower that produces ovules which further develop into fruit and seed. It is the female reproductive part of a flower consisting of one or more pistils. Pistils are composed of either free or fused Carpels that bear ovules.

Complete step by step answer: Gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower which gives rise to female gametophytes i.e. a clump of archegonia along modified leaves or stem. Pistil is further segmented into three parts, the apical portion to receive pollen is stigma, the elongated stalk is style and the basal portion is ovary. Gynoecium bearing single carpel is termed as monocarpous and more than one is polycarpous. Free unfused Carpels is termed apocarpous whereas fused Carpels is termed as syncarpous.
Aloe is placed under family Liliaceae with tricarpellary, syncarpous superior ovary. Papaver also bears multiple carpel but is syncarpous, placed in family Papaveraceae whereas Tomato comprises bicarpellary, syncarpous superior ovary placed under family Solanaceae. Michelia belongs to family Magnoliaceae bearing numerous free pistils (apocarpous) which are arranged spirally on an elongated cone shaped thalamus with superior ovary. Hence, the correct option is D Michelia.

Note: The relationship of flower parts to that with Gynoecium is an important parameter for taxonomy and systematics. An Apocarpous ovary is always unilocular which on maturity forms aggregate fruitlet whereas syncarpous ovary can be unilocular or multilocular which on maturity forms simple fruit. Michelia spp. is well known for the production of high value essential oil for perfumery and it aids as a diuretic in renal disease.