What is the primary function of the pistil in flowers?

The primary function of the pistil in flowers is reproduction. The pistil is the female reproductive structure of a flower, consisting of the ovary, style, and stigma. It plays a crucial role in the process of pollination and fertilization. The stigma is adapted to catch and hold pollen grains transferred from the male parts of the flower, known as the stamens. Once pollen reaches the stigma, it germinates and grows down the style to reach the ovary, where fertilization occurs, leading to the development of seeds. This function is essential for the continuation of plant species and is a fundamental concept in understanding plant reproduction.

Other choices are related to different aspects of the flower's anatomy or function: producing pollen is the domain of the stamens, photosynthesis occurs primarily in leaves and green parts of the plant, and while support for the flower is important, it does not pertain to the reproductive role that the pistil serves.