Syncarpous

Syncarpous, having several carpels united together. The union may vary in extent from the slight union of the lower halves of the ovarian regions of the two carpels in the saxifrage to the complete fusion in the ovarian, stylar, and stigmatic region in the Primulaceae. Very often the number of the carpels remains apparent, either in external lobing of the ovary, as in the lily; or in the number of chambers or of placentas, as in St. John's wort and violet respectively; or in distinct styles, as in grasses; or in stigmatic lobes, as in Compositae. The great majority of angiosperms have syncarpous gynaecia.