pistil

Everyday

The female part in the middle of a flower, made of the stigma, the style and the ovary, where seeds form. tree →

In the lessons

In science, a labelled flower diagram shows the pistil (also called the carpel) in the centre and the stamens (male parts with pollen) around it. Pollination happens when pollen lands on the sticky stigma at the top of the pistil; then seeds grow in the ovary at its base. Phrases: «the pistil and stamens», «stigma, style and ovary».

Examples

• The pistil is in the middle of the flower. tree →
• Pollen sticks to the top of the pistil, called the stigma. tree →
• Seeds grow in the ovary at the bottom of the pistil. tree →
• Label the pistil and the stamens on your flower diagram. tree →
• In a lily, the pistil is long and easy to see. tree →
• The bee brushed pollen onto the pistil. tree →
• The pistil has three parts: stigma, style and ovary. tree →
• After pollination, the pistil's ovary becomes the fruit. tree →

Note

Countable. Homophone: «pistol» (a small gun) sounds almost the same — different word. Many textbooks use «carpel» for the same part, or for one unit of it.