Flower Types by Ovary Position — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2024Based on the position of calyx, corolla and androecium in respect of the ovary on thalamus, the flowers are described as hypogynous, perigynous and epigynous. In the hypogynous flower the gynoecium occupies the highest position while the other parts are situated below it. The ovary in such flowers is said to be superior, e.g., mustard, china rose and brinjal. If gynoecium is situated in the centre and other parts of the flower are located on the rim of the thalamus almost at the same level, it is called perigynous. The ovary here is said to be half inferior, e.g., plum, rose, peach. In epigynous flowers, the margin of thalamus grows upward enclosing the ovary completely and getting fused with it, the other parts of flower arise above the ovary. Hence, the ovary is said to be inferior as in flowers of guava and cucumber, and the ray florets of sunflower.
NTA tests students' ability to classify flowers as hypogynous, perigynous, or epigynous based on ovary position relative to other floral parts. Students commonly confuse these three types, especially perigynous flowers—they incorrectly assume all inferior ovaries are epigynous. Remember: hypogynous = ovary at top (superior), perigynous = ovary in middle with parts at same level (half-inferior, like rose), epigynous = ovary enclosed/fused below other parts (inferior, like guava). The key distinction is WHERE other floral parts attach—below, at sides, or above the ovary.
This paragraph was tested 5 times in NEET.
Match List-I with List-II List-I A. Rose B. Pea C. Cotton D. Mango List-II I. Twisted aestivation II. Perigynous flower III. Drupe IV. Marginal placentation [2024]
Ray florets have
The ovary is half inferior in:
The ovary is half inferior in:
Ray florets have:
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.
88/90MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.