Which term describes carpels that are free (not fused)?

Which term describes carpels that are free (not fused)?

• A. Syncarpous
• B. Apocarpous
• C. Axile Placentation
• D. Marginal Placentation

Answer: (B)

Free, unfused carpels are described as apocarpous. In an apocarpous gynoecium, each carpel remains separate and typically has its own ovary, style, and stigma, giving multiple distinct pistils within the flower. This contrasts with a syncarpous condition, where the carpels are fused into a single ovary with multiple locules. The placentation terms axile and marginal talk about how ovules are arranged inside the ovary, not whether the carpels are fused, so they don’t describe the fusion status of the carpels.

Free, unfused carpels are described as apocarpous. In an apocarpous gynoecium, each carpel remains separate and typically has its own ovary, style, and stigma, giving multiple distinct pistils within the flower. This contrasts with a syncarpous condition, where the carpels are fused into a single ovary with multiple locules. The placentation terms axile and marginal talk about how ovules are arranged inside the ovary, not whether the carpels are fused, so they don’t describe the fusion status of the carpels.