pistil

[ pis-tl ]

noun

, Botany.

1. the ovule-bearing or seed-bearing female organ of a flower, consisting when complete of ovary, style, and stigma.
2. such organs collectively, where there are more than one in a flower.
3. a gynoecium.

pistil

/ ˈpɪstɪl /

noun

1. the female reproductive part of a flower, consisting of one or more separate or fused carpels; gynoecium

pistil

/ pĭs′təl /

1. One of the female reproductive organs of a flower, consisting of a single carpel or of several carpels fused together. A flower may have one pistil or more than one, though some flowers lack pistils and bear only the male reproductive organs known as stamens .
2. See more at carpel

pistil

1. The female part of a plant. In flowering plants, it is at the center of the flower . When fertilized with pollen , the pistil develops into fruit .

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistil¹

1570–80; earlier pistillum, special use of Latin pistillum pestle

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistil¹

C18: from Latin pistillum pestle

Example Sentences

Using their technique, the team was able to observe, for the first time, the elongation of multiple pollen tubes within a living pistil and their unique attraction to female tissue.

From Science Daily

The study described how a plant's floral tubes produce volatile compounds to sterilize their stigma, the part of the pistil that collects pollen, to protect against attack by pathogens.

From Science Daily

Watch to see whether the pistils begin to turn red and the leaves start to change colors.

From Washington Post

The white petals of the flower curl around the tightly bunched cluster of pistils at the center, reaching to all four edges of the print.

From Los Angeles Times

Later that day, her students would tear those silky petals from their stems, counting stamens and pistils to learn botany.

From Washington Post