Pistil

Pistil is female reproductive organ of a flower. It's usually in the center of a flower surrounded by stamens and tepals. It comprises of a slender stalk called style with sticky or hairy tip called stigma where pollen grains land and germinate. Pistil typically has a swollen base and that is the ovary that contains potential seeds for reproduction.

Lily family has a single pistil.

The pistil looks like a stamen

without the anther.

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Pistil among stamens with opened anther exposing yellow pollen grains ready for pollination. When pollen grains get transported to the stigma, by insects or birds or other pollinators, the fertilization process begins. Pollen grains would be transported through pollen tube inside the style and ends up in the ovary. Ovules in the ovary will turn into seeds when the fertilization completes.

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Anthers surrounding a pistil

still wrapped in the flower bud.

The pistil is longer than stamens.

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The swollen base of pistil is the ovary

and in this case it's attached below

the stamens and tepals.

© Burke's Garden, 2009.