ELEMENTARY BOTANY. 
XVII 
tilting- together the gynceceum ; but this term is in little use, and the word pistil is 
more generally applied in a collective sense. When the ovaries are at all united, 
they are commonly termed collectively a compound ovary. 
124. The number of carpels or ovaries in a flower is frequently reduced below 
that of the parts of the other floral whorls, even in flowers otherwise symmetrical. 
In a very few genera, however, the ovaries are more numerous than the petals, or 
indefinite. They are in that case either arranged in a single whorl, or form a head 
or spike in the centre of the flower. 
125. The terms monogynom , digynous, polygynous, etc. (with a pistil of one, two, or 
more parts), are vaguely used, applying sometimes to the whole pistil, sometimes to 
the ovaries alone, or to the styles or stigmas only. Where a more precise nomen- 
clature is adopted, the flower is 
monocarpellary, when the pistil consists of a single simple carpel. 
bi -, tri-, etc., to poly-carpellary, when the pistil consists of two, three, or an 
indefinite number of carpels, whether separate or united. 
syncarpous , when the carpels or their ovaries are more or less united into one 
compound ovary. 
apocarpous , when the carpels or ovaries are all free and distinct. 
126. A compound ovary is 
unilocular or one-celled , when there are no partitions between the ovules, or 
when those partitions do not meet in the centre so as to divide the cavity into 
several cells. 
plurilocular or several-celled, when completely divided into two or more cells 
by partitions called dissepiments (septa), usually vertical and radiating from the 
centre or axis of the ovary to its circumference. 
bi-, tri-, etc., to multi-locular, according to the number of these cells, two, 
three, etc., or many. 
127. In general the number of cells or of dissepiments, complete or partial, or of 
rows of ovules, corresponds with that of the carpels, of which the pistil is com- 
posed. But sometimes each carpel is divided completely or partially into two cells, 
or has two rows of ovules, so that the number of carpels appears double what it 
really is. Sometimes again the carpels are so completely combined and reduced as 
to form a single cell, with a single ovule, although it really consists of several car- 
pels. But in these cases the ovary is usually described as it appears, as well as 
such as it is theoretically supposed to be. 
128. In apocarpous pistils the styles are usually free, each bearing its own stigma. 
Very rarely the greater part of the styles, or the stigmas alone, are united, whilst 
the ovaries remain distinct. 
129. Syncarpous pistils are said to have 
several styles, when the styles are free from the base. 
one style, with several branches, when the styles are connected at the base, but 
separate below the point where the stigmas or stigmatic surfaces commence. 
one simple style, with several stigmas, when united up to the point where the 
stigmas or stigmatic surfaces commence, and then separating. 
one simple style, with a branched, lobed, toothed, notched, or entire stigma (as the 
case, may be), when the stigmas also are more or less united. In many works, 
however, this precise nomenclature is not strictly adhered to, and considerable 
confusion is often the result. 
130. In general the number of styles, or branches of the style or stigma, is the 
same as that of the carpels, but sometimes that number is doubled, especially in 
the stigmas, and sometimes the stigmas are dichotomously or pinnately branched, 
or penicillate, that is, divided into a tuft of hair-like branches. All these variations 
sometimes make it a difficult task to determine the number of carpels forming a 
compound ovary, but the point is of considerable importance in fixing the affinities 
of plants, and, by careful consideration, the real as well as the apparent number 
has now in most cases been agreed upon. 
131. The Placenta is the part of the inside of the ovary to which the ovules are 
attached, sometimes a mere point or line on the inner surface, often more or less 
thickened or raised. Placentation is therefore the indication of the part of the 
ovary to which the ovules are attached. 
Q 
