The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The pistil (or carpel) represents the female reproductive unit of a flower. Collectively, the pistils form the gynoecium, which is one of the essential reproductive whorls of a typical angiosperm flower.Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. A typical flower consists of four whorls arranged on the thalamus. The calyx (sepals) is the outermost whorl, followed by the corolla (petals) and the androecium (stamens). The pistil (gynoecium) is the innermost whorl of the flower.
- Statement 2 is Correct. A pistil consists of three main parts: the stigma (the receptive surface for pollen grains), the style (the elongated slender part beneath the stigma), and the ovary.
- Statement 3 is Correct. The ovary is the lowermost and swollen part of the pistil. Inside the ovary is the ovarian cavity (locule), which contains the placenta and ovules (megasporangia).
Key Takeaway: The pistil is the innermost female reproductive whorl of a flower, structurally composed of a basal swollen ovary, an elongated style, and a terminal stigma.