Like ferns, the diploid sporophyte consists of a herbaceous or woody plant with roots, stems and leaves. Unlike ferns, flowering plants produce reproductive organs called flowers and seed-bearing fruits. A simple pistil is composed of one carpel, while a compound pistil is composed of several carpels fused together. Carpels are actually modified leaves which can be readily observed when certain fruits dry and split open. For example the fruit or seed capsule of cotton is composed of five carpels, while yucca capsules contain three carpels.
Some botanists prefer to use the term gynoecium instead of pistil.
This term also applies to flowers with multiple pistils, each composed of separate and distinct carpels. Some flowers, such as species of eucalyptus and cactus, have literally hundreds of stamens. The variation in size, color, number and arrangement of floral parts in blossoms of different plant families is absolutely staggering. During the process of pollination, pollen is transferred from the anther to the receptive stigma at the top of the pistil. In self pollination, pollen is transferred from the anther to the pistil of the same flower or between flowers on the same plant.