14. Stigma and Style of Carpel

The carpel is a part of the female reproductive organ of a flower and consists of the stigma and style. The style is a long stalk the supports the stigma. The stigma lies at the end of the carpel and collects pollen on fine hairs. Once on the stigma, pollen grains extend pollen tubes down the style, and the tubes deliver sperm cells to the ovary. In this image of a hibiscus, the style is the slender pink stalk extending from the center of the flower. The style of a hibiscus separates into what are called style branches; the burgundy colored stigmata attach to the end of each branch.