What Is an Ovule? What Becomes a Seed After Pollination
An ovule is the structure inside a flower’s ovary that becomes a seed. NC State Extension says each ovule produces a single egg cell, and after the egg is fertilized the ovule develops into a seed while the ovary matures into the fruit.
The short answer
An ovule is an immature, unfertilized seed. It sits inside the ovary at the base of the pistil. Pollen lands on the stigma, a pollen tube grows down to the ovule and fertilization follows. The ovule then becomes the seed and the ovary becomes the fruit.
What is an ovule?
The University of Tennessee defines it as the female reproductive structure in which seeds develop after fertilization. Colorado State calls ovules unfertilized, immature seeds. A seed, NC State notes, holds an embryo, stored food and a seed coat. Compare those parts in cannabis seed anatomy.
Where are ovules found in a flower?
Within the ovary. NC State says a pistil has a stigma, a style and an ovary. The ovary is the swollen part at the base of the style. The University of Minnesota’s Science of Plants text says each ovule hangs from a stalk called the funiculus, which attaches to the placenta inside the ovary.
| Part | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stigma | Receives pollen | Colorado State |
| Style | Links stigma to ovary | Colorado State |
| Ovary | Holds ovules | NC State |
| Ovule | Becomes the seed | NC State |
How does an ovule become a seed?
The US Forest Service says pollen on the stigma forms a pollen tube that grows down into the ovule. Tennessee says fertilization occurs in the ovary and the seed develops. NC State notes that a cantaloupe holds many seeds, while a peach holds a single hard seed.
How to: step by step
- Pick an open flower from a squash or bean.
- Find the pistil in the center.
- Slice the swollen base lengthwise.
- Look for the tiny beads inside. These are ovules.
- Compare them with seeds from a ripe pod.
Troubleshooting
Cannot find the pistil: some flowers are male only, as NC State notes for staminate flowers.
Ovules too small to see: use a hand lens.
Want to see pollinators at work: read what roles do bees play in outdoor cannabis.
From ovule to seed
Each seed started as an ovule. Learn how leaves feed that process in cannabis leaf anatomy and how plants shift into bloom in cannabis guide vegetative stage to flowering stage. Kind Seed Co shares more plant science notes for curious growers.
Sources
- Extension Gardener Handbook, chapter 3: botany, NC State Extension
- Chapter 3: basic botany, plant physiology, and plant classification, University of Tennessee Master Gardener Program
- Botany (CMG GardenNotes 120), Colorado State University Extension
- What is pollination?, US Forest Service
- Chapter 8: terms, The Science of Plants, University of Minnesota Libraries
FAQ
Is an ovule the same as a seed?
No. Colorado State calls ovules unfertilized, immature seeds. NC State says the ovule develops into a seed after the egg is fertilized.
How many ovules does a flower have?
It varies. NC State notes a cantaloupe holds many seeds, while cherries, peaches and plums hold a single seed.
What is the difference between ovule and ovary?
NC State says the ovary is the swollen base of the pistil and contains the ovules. The ovary becomes the fruit and each ovule becomes a seed.
Do all plants have ovules?
No. NC State says ferns and horsetails reproduce through spores. Gymnosperms make seeds, but not inside a ripened ovary.
What is the funiculus?
The University of Minnesota's Science of Plants text defines it as the stalk that connects an ovule or seed to the placenta.
