Describing a gynoecium in which the carpels are fused. The degree of fusion varies from only being joined at the ovary base (semicarpous), as in the Labiatae, to fusion of the ovary and style (synstylovarious), as in the Caryophyllaceae, to fusion of the whole carpel (syncarpous), as in the Cruciferae. This fusion may or may not persist in the fruit at dispersal. The degree of fusion of the carpels is usually taken as an indication of the degree of specialization in the flower. Compare apocarpous . |
