TYPES OF OVULE

 Mature ovules are classified into five mainly based on the position of micropyle, with
respect to the funicle.

1. ORTHOTROPOUS/AUTROPOUS/ERECT OVULE

 In them the micropyle and funcle lie in one line

Eg.piperaceae,urticaceae

2.ANTROPOUS/INVERTED OVULE

 The ovules where micropyle lie close to funiculus due to the unilateral growth of the ovule
 This is the most common type of ovule seen in angiosperms.
 About 82% of the angeospermic families show anatropous ovule

3. CAMPHYLOTROPOUS OVULE

 This type of ovule has a curved body

 But its curvature is less than that in anatropous ovule
 The micropyle and chalaza are not in straight line. But the funiculus lies at the right angles to
the chalaza

Eg.Amaranthus

4.AMPHITROPOUS OVULE
  These ovules have a pronounced curved body like that of anatropous ovule.
 But here the embroyo sac also bends within the ovule and becomes horse shoe shaped

Eg.Alismataceae

5.HEMITROPOUS/HEMIANTROPOUS OVULE

 In this type the body of ovule is horizontally placed on the funicle. Here the micropyle and
chalaza are all on the same horizontal line,these lines are right angle to the funiculus.

Eg.Rubiaceae,Primulaceae

PARTS OF OVULE

The various parts of the ovule are as follows:

1. INTEGUMENTS

 The angiospermic ovule has one or two integuments .

 Unitegmic ovules are characteristic of gameopetalae while bitegmic ovules are the
characteristics of polypetalae
 But in some areas, the ovule lack integuments completely are called ategmic.(loranthecae)
  The two integments arises independently. The inner integument usually preceeds the outer
one.
 The integument arises from integument primodium.
 The two integuments show various degrees of fusion.
 Usually the two integuments are fused at chalaza and free towards micropylar end
 Chloroplast are positioned in cells of ovule integuments with stomata for gaseous exchange.
 More than two integuments are present in certain taxa.
 In some cases , a third integument called aril arises from the base of ovule which
covers completely the other two integuments.

Eg.Myristica fragrans

 In some other a third tissue is formed around the micropyle which forms a cushion like
structure that partially envelope the ovule. These outgrowths seen at the micropylar region
is called caruncle.

Eg.Ricinus communis(Castor)

ENDOTHELIUM/TAPETAL INTEGUMENT

 In most plants belonging to gamopetalae/sympetalae,the nuecllus degenerates at an early

stage of the ovule development and the innermost layer of integument becomes specialized
to perform the the nutritive function around the embryosac
 These specialized tissues present around embryoasac is called endothelium
 The endothelium may differentiate even before the disorganization of nucellus
 The endothelium is usually single layered which is rich in cytoplasm and store starch and
fat. They are often polyploid

Eg.umbeliferae

 The endothelium is similar to tapetal integuments of anther and they are also
called integumentary tapetum

2. MICROPYLE

 It is a small pore present at the apex of ovule, mostly formed by both the integuments .
 In case of bitegmic ovule, the opening caused by ovule integument called exostome and by
the inner integument called endostome.

3. NUCELLUS

 It is rounded or oval mass of thin parenchymateous cells enclosed by integuments

 In monocots the nucellus is massive and the sporogenous cell is deeply embedded in it.
Such type of ovule are crassinucellate ovule.
  On the otherhand,in gamopetalae the nucellus occurs only as a single layer around
the sporogenous cell . Such type of ovules are called tenuinuclellated ovule.
 The nucellus is mostly consumed by developing embryosac or endosperm.
 In some plants,it persists even in the mature seeds as a nutritive tissue.Such persistant
nucellus is known as perisperm

Eg.pepper(piper nigram),Nymphia