= Superior ovary
A <superior ovary> is an <ovary (botany)> free from surrounding receptacular tissue, with the <perianth> and \x[stamens]{magic} inserted below it or on the rim of a surrounding <hypanthium>. “Superior” specifies an anatomical relationship within a <flower>, rather than a location high on the <plant>.<Glossary of Botanical Terms by PlantNET>[Entry superior and Figure12A,D: hypogynous attachment and a free ovary in a perigynous cup; https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?glossary=yes&ill=Fig.+12+A+YY+D&page=nswfl&term=superior]{ref}
Compare two longitudinal sections. In one, the <ovary (botany)> stands above the insertion of the other floral parts. In another, it stands inside a cup-shaped <hypanthium>, whose rim supports those parts. Both can contain a <superior ovary> if the cup is free from the ovary wall.
The useful diagnostic is therefore to trace boundaries and points of attachment. A deeply surrounding cup and a deeply embedded <inferior ovary> may have similar outer outlines while representing different arrangements. Their developmental relationship, rather than the apparent height of the tip, determines the classification.
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