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According to GardenGuides.com, the pistil is the ovule-producing, or female, part of the flower. The male part of the flower is known as the stamen. Not all flowers have both male and female parts, while some do.
Ovules inside
The pistil is the part of the flower's reproductive system that contains the ovary, carpel, and stigma. Upon pollination by the plant's sperm, the ovule is transported into the flower's ovary.
On the surface
In order to hold the sperm-containing pollen in place, the exterior surface of a pistil has a sticky surface. This allows the sperm long enough to pollinate the flower effectively.
How it happens
Pollen landing on the surface of the pistil grows into a pollen tube. The pollen tube forms and grows down into the carpel section of the pistil and allows the sperm to pollinate the ovule.
How many pistils in a flower?
The number of pistils in a flower is dependent of the number of ovaries in the flower. Fruits such as a cherry have only one pistil per flower. Fruits such as the watermelon contain many.
Some additional facts
Some flowers develop in a different order than others. When the pistil of the flower develops before the stamen, it's called protogyny. When the stamen matures first, it's called protandry.
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