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PLANT MORPHOLOGY. 
the cells of a syncarpous gynoecium are known as dis- 
sepiments ; when three or more carpels are united the 
number of dissepiments corresponds to the number of 
carpels. It sometimes happens that a partition or wall 
is intruded from the mid-vein of the carpel, dividing a 
one-celled ovary into one that is two-celled, as in species 
of Astragalus, and such a partition is termed a false 
dissepiment. 
When no other than the true dissepiments exist in 
the syncarpous gynoecium the placentae are borne along 
the axis of the flower and are termed axial placentae. 
In the Caryophyllacese the ovules are borne upon a 
central axis, and the dissepiments having been absorbed 
the gynoecium is said to possess free central placentas. 
In other cases the placentae grow backward from the 
central axis toward the mid-vein of the carpel, carrying 
the ovules with them, when they are spoken of as 
parietal placentae. 
The Style not only varies in shape and size but in 
tbe manner of attachment to the ovary ; it may be 
very short, as in the clove ; long and filiform, as in 
(Enothera ; club-shaped (clavate) as in the orange; or 
broad and petalloid, as in Iris. It is usually situated 
at the summit of the ovary when it is said to be apical 
or terminal ; it may, however, be laterally attached, as 
in the strawberry, or in a few instances attached to the 
base of the ovary. It is usually smooth, but may be 
hairy, as in the Compositae. The styles like the carpels 
may be separate or united, and in the latter case may 
have a central canal connecting the stigma with the 
ovary, as in the violets. While usually deciduous, 
the style may be more or less persistent — forming a 
part of the fruit — or even develop additionally, as in 
the dandelion. 
The Stigma is an essential part of the pistil in that 
