ovule
/ˈɒvjuːl
/ /ˈəʊvjuːl/noun Botany
The part of the ovary of seed plants that contains the female germ cell and after fertilization becomes the seed.The number of pollen tubes and ovules in the ovaries of each of six dissected pistils from each cross is shown....
- It is well known that most flowering plants produce more ovules than the number of seeds they mature.
- Once the pollen has fertilized the egg cell contained within the ovule, the ovule develops into a seed, and the ovary of the enclosing carpel begins to enlarge and ripen, forming the fruit.
Derivatives
ovular
/ /ˈəʊvjʊlə / adjective ...- These filial organs are enclosed by a maternal seed coat, derived from one or both ovular integuments.
- Nevertheless, there is a consensus that the palisade layer, which develops from the outer epidermis of the outer ovular integument, is critical in determining the permeability property of a seed coat.
- However, any role of ethylene, produced due to damaging the ovular base, cannot be excluded.
Origin
Early 19th century: from French, from medieval Latin ovulum, diminutive of ovum.