THE GYNCGCIUM. 267 
alone in the ordinary pistillate flower ; or it stands alone when 
the flower is pistillate and naked (fig. 35). The gyncecium 
consists of one or more modified leaves called capels which are 
either distinct from each other, as in the Stonecrop (fig. 581) ; 
or combined into one body, as in the 
Primrose (fig. 582) and Tobacco (fig. 584), Fre. 582. 
When there is but one carpel as in the 
Pea (fig. 603), Broom (fig. 583), and 
Leguminous plants generally, the pistil is 
said to be simple; when there is more 
than one, whether distinct from each other, 
as in the Stonecrop (fig. 581), or com- 
bined into one body, as in the Tobacco 
(fig. 584), and Primrose (fig. 582), it is 
described as compound. Before proceed- 
ing to examine the gyncecium or pistil 
generally, it is necessary to describe the 
parts, nature, and structure of the carpel, 
of one or more of which organs it is com- 
posed. 
THE Carpet.—This name is derived 
from a Greek word signifying the fruit, 
because the pistil forms, as will be after- 
wards explained, the essential part of that 
organ. Each carpel, as we have already 
noticed (page 19), consists, Ist, of a hol- 
low inferior part arising from the thala- 
mus, called the ovary (fig. 585, 0), con- 
taining in its interior one or more little 
somewhat roundish or oval bodies called 
ovules, ov, and which are attached to a 
projection on the walls termed the pla- 
Fie. 584, 
Fig.582. Pistil of Prim- 
rose (Primulavulgaris ), 
centa, p. 2nd, of a stigma or space of  Connosed of several 
variable size, composed of loose parenchy- united = carpels, and 
matous tissue without epidermis; this hence termed com- 
pound and syncarpous. 
There is but one style, 
whichis surmounted by 
stigma is either placed directly on the 
ovary, in which case it is said to be sessile, 
asin the Barberry (fig. 585, st); or it is 
elevated on a stalk prolonged from the 
ovary, called the style, as in the Broom 
(fig. 583, s). The only essential parts of 
the carpel, therefore, are the ovary and 
stigma, the style being no more necessary 
to it than the filament is to the stamen. 
The terms ovary, style, and stigma are ap- 
a capitate stigma. 
Fig. 583. Simple pistil 
of Broom. 0. Ovary. 5. 
Style. ¢. Stigma. 
Fig. 584. Compound 
synearpous pistil of 
Tobacco (Nicotiana Ta- 
bacum). t. Thalamus. 
o. Ovary. s. Style. g. 
Capitate stigma, 
plied in precisely the same sense when speaking of a compound 
pistil in which the parts are completely united (jigs. 32, 582, and 
584), as with the simple carpel. The simple ovary (page 279) 
has two sutures, one of which corresponds to the union of 
