The tissue within a plant ovary where ovules are attached and from which they receive nutrients during development. It's the connection point between the ovule and the parent plant.
From Latin 'placenta' meaning 'flat cake,' borrowed from Greek 'plakous' (flat cake). The term was extended to botany in the 18th century due to the flattened, cake-like appearance of some ovule attachment sites.
Just like in mammals, the plant placenta is the lifeline that feeds developing babies - except plant babies are seeds, and this placenta can be arranged in amazing patterns like wheels, columns, or scattered randomly throughout the ovary!
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