88 SOUTH AFRICAN BOTANY 
placentas indicates the number of carpels. If the 
margins of the carpels project further into the ovary so 
as to divide it into separate compartments or loculi, 
the placentas meet in the centre to form an axis, and 
the placentation is said to be AxiLE (fig. 52). The 
number of loculi indicates the number of carpels. If 
one loculus is present the gynoecium is said to be 
Uninocunar, if two are present BiLocunar, if more 
MuLTILOcULAR. In some cases the ovary is divided 
into loculi, not by the projection of the margins of the 
Fia. 52.—Cross section of Ovaries showing Placentation. 
A. Cape Crocus showing axile placentation, B. Passion Flower show- 
ing parietal placentation. OC. Pentstemon showing axile placen- 
tation, 
carpel towards the centre, but by the growth of FatsE 
Serva, or outgrowths, from the surface of other parts 
of the carpel. This condition must be carefully distin- 
guished from the division of the ovary into loculi by 
TRUE SEPTA, 1.e. by septa formed by outgrowth and 
fusion of the margins of the carpel. Lastly, if the floral 
axis projects into the centre of the ovary and the ovules 
are borne on this projecting axis the placentation is said 
to be FREE-CENTRAL. The carpels fuse at their margins 
asin parietal placentation so that only one loculus is 
formed, but the ovules are borne on a prolongation of 
the floral axis, not on the margins of the carpels. Ifa 
