Question

‘Gynoecium is apocarpous’ means that-
(a) Gynoecium comprises of only one pistil which is fused with stamen
(b) Gynoecium comprises more than one carpel, all of which are free
(c) Gynoecium comprises only one carpel which is free
(d) Gynoecium comprises of more than one carpel, which is fused

Answer 1

Carpels are considered to be composed of the pistils of a flower. The female reproductive part of the flower, interpreted as modified leaves bearing structures called ovules, within which the egg cells eventually form and consist of ovaries, style, and stigma, is a carpel.

Complete step by step answer:
The gynoecium is the reproductive whorl of the female whose unit is called a carpel. It is called multicarpellary when the carpels are longer than one. The condition is called apocarpous if these carpels are free from each other and do not exhibit cohesion.
- When fused with stamens, the Gynoecium is gynandrous.
- The gynoecium is apocarpous when more than one carpel is there and they are open.
- When more than one carpel is fused with each other, the gynoecium is multicarpellary syncarpous.
- When there is only one carpel, the gynecium is actually monocarpellary.

Additional information: A gynoecium (from Ancient Greek gyne, "woman") is the female reproductive parts of a flower. The male parts are called the androecium. Some flowers have both female and male sections, and some do not. Another main word is carpel.
The gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds.
So, the correct answer is ‘Gynoecium comprises more than one carpel, all of which are free’.

Note: The gynoecium is often referred to as female because it gives rise to gametophytes that are female (egg- producing); however, sporophytes have no sex, only gametophytes do. In systematic research and angiosperm identification, the production and arrangement of gynoecium are significant, but it can be the most difficult of the floral parts to interpret.