pistil
pistil
Noun
pl: pistils
This term refers specifically to the central, female reproductive apparatus of a flower. It is a collective term for the stigma, style, and ovary, functioning as the site where pollen is received and seeds are developed. In botanical terminology, the pistil is distinguished from the stamen, which is the male reproductive organ. While some flowers have a single pistil, others may have multiple separate carpels that function as a combined pistil.