Editing Ovule (section)

== Location within the plant ==
In [[flowering plant]]s, the ovule is located inside the portion of the [[flower]] called the [[gynoecium]]. The [[Ovary (plants)|ovary]] of the gynoecium produces one or more ovules and ultimately becomes the [[fruit]] wall. Ovules are attached to the placenta in the ovary through a stalk-like structure known as a ''funiculus'' (plural, funiculi). Different patterns of ovule attachment, or [[Placentation#In plants|placentation]], can be found among plant species, these include:<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xVoDxupADJMC Kotpal, Tyagi, Bendre, & Pande. Concepts of Biology XI]. Rastogi Publications, 2nd ed. New Delhi 2007. {{ISBN|8171338968}}. Fig. 38 Types of placentation, page 2-127</ref>
*Apical placentation: The placenta is at the apex (top) of the ovary. Simple or compound ovary.
*Axile placentation: The ovary is divided into radial segments, with placentas in separate [[locule]]s. Ventral sutures of carpels meet at the centre of the ovary. Placentae are along fused margins of carpels. Two or more carpels. (e.g. ''[[Hibiscus]]'', ''[[Citrus]]'', ''[[Solanum]]'')
*Basal placentation: The placenta is at the base (bottom) of the ovary on a protrusion of the thalamus ([[receptacle (botany)|receptacle]]). Simple or compound carpel, unilocular ovary. (e.g. ''[[Sonchus]]'', ''[[Helianthus]]'', ''[[Asteraceae]]'')
*Free-central placentation: Derived from axile as partitions are absorbed, leaving ovules at the central axis. Compound unilocular ovary. (e.g. ''[[Stellaria]]'', ''[[Dianthus]]'')
*Marginal placentation: Simplest type. There is only one elongated placenta on one side of the ovary, as ovules are attached at the fusion line of the carpel's margins . This is conspicuous in legumes. Simple carpel, unilocular ovary. (e.g. ''[[Pisum]]'')
*Parietal placentation: Placentae on inner ovary wall within a non-sectioned ovary, corresponding to fused carpel margins. Two or more carpels, unilocular ovary. (e.g. ''[[Brassica]]'')
*Superficial placentation: Similar to axile, but placentae are on inner surfaces of multilocular ovary (e.g. ''[[Nymphaea]]'')

In [[gymnosperm]]s such as conifers, ovules are borne on the surface of an ovuliferous (ovule-bearing) scale, usually within an ovulate [[conifer cone|cone]] (also called [[strobilus|megastrobilus]]). In the early extinct [[Pteridosperms|seed ferns]], ovules were borne on the surface of leaves. In the most recent of these taxa, a cupule (a modified branch or group of branches) surrounded the ovule (e.g. ''[[Caytonia]]'' or ''[[Glossopteris]]'').