Stamen
/ˈsteɪmən/
Definition
Stamen refers to the male reproductive structure of a flower. It usually consists of a filament, the stalk, and an anther, the pollen-producing tip. One flower may have one stamen or many. Stamens are distinct from pistils, which contain the ovary and receive pollen. Their main role is to produce and present pollen for transfer during pollination, supporting sexual reproduction in flowering plants.
Function in Plants
- Pollen production: The stamen produces pollen, which carries the male sex cells needed for fertilization and seed formation in flowering plants.
- Pollination link: Its position and timing affect how pollen reaches the stigma, whether by wind, insects, birds, or self-pollination in some species.
- Flower identification: Number, length, fusion, and arrangement are useful traits in botany because they help distinguish plant groups and sometimes separate similar species.
- Breeding relevance: In horticulture, removal or damage can prevent pollen release, which matters when controlling crosses, reducing unwanted self-seeding, or producing seedless fruits in some crops.
Related Terms
Pollen
Pollen is a fine, powdery substance made in the anthers of seed plants. It consists of tiny grains that carry the male…
Pollination
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower, the anther, to the female part, the stigma, of…
Theca
Theca refers to one of the two pollen sacs in a typical anther, the pollen-bearing part of a flower’s stamen. Each…
Pistil
Pistil refers to the female reproductive structure of a flower. It consists of one carpel or several fused carpels and…