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axile

Axile is a botanical term describing a type of placentation in the ovary. In axile placentation, ovules are attached to a central axis that runs through the placenta inside a multilocular ovary. The ovary is typically divided into locules by septa, and a column of placental tissue extends from the central axis toward each locule, bearing the ovules along its length. When the ovary develops from multiple fused carpels (syncarpous), the central placental axis forms at the shared axis of the carpels.

Axile placentation is common among many dicotyledonous plants. It is characteristically found in members of the

In plant taxonomy and descriptive botany, identifying the placentation type helps in the characterization of a

Solanaceae
(for
example
tomato)
and
Malvaceae
(for
example
cotton
and
hibiscus).
It
contrasts
with
parietal
placentation,
where
ovules
arise
from
the
inner
walls
of
a
hollow
ovary;
with
marginal
placentation,
where
ovules
develop
along
the
margin
of
a
unilocular
ovary;
and
with
free-central
placentation,
where
a
hollow
column
of
placental
tissue
grows
from
the
center
but
is
not
connected
to
the
walls.
species
or
group.
The
term
axile
is
primarily
used
in
the
context
of
ovary
structure
and
fruit
development.