Difference Between Carpel and Pistil

The anthology is the branch of science to study the flowers and flowering plants. It mainly deals with the structure and function of the Angiosperms. Flowers are the reproductive part of the plants. It consists of sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils. Also, a complete flower contains both vegetative and reproductive parts. These are playing the important role in the process of reproduction in plants. Among all other reproductive parts, carpels and pistils are the basic units of the gynoecium- the female part of a flower. These are related but still, there is some difference between carpel and pistil. Carpels are the fundamental units of the gynoecium and also may be free means distinct or fused means connate. Similarly, we use the term pistil. In some situations, these terms are equivalent in meaning but not always.

What is Carpel?

The carpel is the fourth whorl of a flower and it is in the center. It mainly comprises the style, stigma, and ovary which are the female parts of a flower. Also, a single flower can have one or more carpels. Thus, carpel is one of the leaf-like, seed-bearing structures and it constitutes the innermost whorl the flower. Fertilization of an egg within the carpel by a pollen grain which is from another flower will produce seed within the carpel.

What is Pistil?

It is the innermost, seed-bearing, female part of the flower. It is located in the center and it contains a swollen base termed as the ovary. Sometimes pistil can also be referred to as a collection of carpels, which are fused together. Thus pistil is the female reproductive part of a flower and its swollen base i.e. ovary contains the potential seeds or ovules.

Difference Between Carpel and Pistil

The important difference between carpel and pistil

Parameter	Carpel	Pistil
Part of a Flower	It is the female reproductive structure in a flower.	It is the ovule or seed-bearing female organ in flower.
Composed of	It is comprising an ovary, stigma, and style.	It is composed of a variable number of carpels.
Egg Cells	They produce egg cells.	It does not produce egg cells.
Functions	It helps in seed dispersal.	It serves as the female reproductive part of the flower.
Fertilization	It undergoes fertilization.	It does not undergo fertilization.
Seed production	It produces seeds.	It does not produce seed.
Significance	The number of styles helps to distinguish the number of carpels.	The number of ovaries helps to distinguish the number of pistils.

FAQs on carpel and pistil:

Q.1: One flower has 3 carpels, free (distinct) and 3 simple pistils. How to expresses its floral formula?

Answer:  In a floral formula, we express it as G3_.

Q.2: One flower has 3 carpels, fused (connate), and 1 compound pistil. How to express its floral formula?

Answer: In a floral formula this will be expressed as G(3)_.